Don’t blame Southern Kaduna killings on us —Army

THE Nigerian Army, yesterday, said it must not be blamed for the killing of some residents of Southern Kaduna, since it was not its function to maintain peace in any society.
The Army, which spoke at a briefing in Abuja, through its Chief of Training and Operations, Major General David Ahmadu, explained that the Nigerian Police had the responsibility of restoring peace whenever crisis starts anywhere.
Major General Ahmadu, who was responding to reporters’ questions on alleged delay of the military to quickly respond to recent killings in Southern Kaduna, denied reports that the Army and other security agencies might have failed to bring peace during the crisis.
He said: “It is not the function or role of the Army to ensure peace abi initio. It is the duty of the Police. And that is why you do not find the Army all over the place.
“But where the Police can no longer function or continue to keep the peace the way they are supposed to do; there is a procedure before the Army intervenes. That was what has played out in Southern Kaduna,
“It is not true that there was failure on the part of the military; no. You must have observed that with our presence there, there is relative peace. Now that we are there, the problem is being solved.”
He added that in line with the Army’s intervention in Southern Kaduna, it will embark on Operation Ex Harbin Kunama to strengthen existing peace initiatives in the zone.
The operation will be held in Birnin Gwari area of Southern Kaduna and other contiguous zones in Plateau and Bauchi states.
The Army is also billed to carry out the Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship, NASAC, in Sambisa Forest in view of the need to secure the area from the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists.