Kwara communal clash: Saraki, others sue for peace

Former Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed; and some eminent personalities in the state, including the   Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Razak Atunwa; Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Dr. Bukola Saraki; the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari;  and the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in the state in the 2011 election, Mr. Dele Belgore (SAN),  on Thursday urged the warring    people of   Offa and Erin-Ile communities in  Offa and Oyun local government areas of the state  to embrace peace and stop further violence.

They also called on traditional institutions in the areas to ensure peaceful co-existence among the people.

The appeals were sequel to the continued violence   between  the warring communities, despite a 24-hour curfew imposed by the state government on Wednesday.

Ahmed described the killings of innocent citizens and destruction of properties in the two hitherto friendly communities as cruel and barbaric.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, the governor said security agencies would fish out the culprits in the violence. Oba said the government would ensure that they faced the full wrath of the law, adding that  the state government would not tolerate lawlessness, hence the imposition of the 24-hour curfew in Offa and Erin-Ile.

Atunwa  said the violence was extremely painful and sad, stressing that there was absolutely no need for it.

He warned the two communities against further violence, saying that Kwara State, known as  “State of Harmony,” should not be experiencing violence.

He said, “Violence does not solve any problem; it only begets violence.  It is senseless and mindless for people to take to the streets and unleash terror on innocent and unsuspecting people or  on each other over land matters.  The so called  dispute is not something that is out of proportion that dialogue cannot resolve.  Dialogue is the only means to settle disputes.”




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