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The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdurrahman, has disowned the new and old figures announced by Governor Nasir El-Rufai as casualties in Gidan Maro an Iri axis of Kajuru Local Government of Kaduna State.
Abdurrahman insisted that the police are still investigating and won’t quote or confirm any figure until their probe is concluded.
Recall that at first announcement on February 15, Mr El-Rufai said 66 people were killed by “criminal elements” in various dispersed hamlets in Kajuru Local Government. The army also confirmed the 66 deaths.
However, in another announcement after an extensive meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and service chiefs on February 19, the governor said the death toll had risen to 130.
El-Rufai’s first and second claims were followed by criticisms by some people who raised doubts about the figures.
One of such criticisms came from the Senator Shehu Sani representing the district. In his words: “What I found out about the killing is that it happened between Sunday and Monday. The figures for the death are within the range of 10 to 15. The state government exaggerated the figures and also timed the announcement of it in view of the fact that that place is remote and beyond the reach of many journalists,” Sani said.
The commissioner explaining further said: “Right now, if the governor tells you even 200, he is just quoting figures. It may be more than that or less than that. For example, the areas you have visited where we were told that 36 bodies were buried, It was not under the purview of the security at the beginning of the investigation until when the Fulani victims themselves came out crying after we have secured all the places with our military counterpart. They now approach the military that come and escort us to come and bury our relations. That was when it was uncovered.”
The police chief said he had earlier warned the governor against releasing unconfirmed number of casualties to avoid heating up the polity.
“As I told the governor himself, I said figures in a crisis of this magnitude should be left until all investigations have been finished. All those areas we are getting information are covered. You cannot come up with a figure. You will come and say a figure and later you have to come and say it again. And this is what is happening As far as police is concerned we are investigating and investigation is still at embryonic stage. By the time we reach all areas…as I’m talking to you now, my men are still in the bush, plus SEMA and other CSOs.
“That’s why professionally, we don’t come out with figures until when we are sure and concluded our investigation. So, you see that there is no reason to say this one said this figure or that one said this figure,” he said.