Borno elders urge Buhari to intervene, resolve Kaduna religious crisis

The Chairman of Borno Elders’ Forum (BEF), Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari, yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “amicably intervene and resolve” the brewing religious crises in Kaduna State before it becomes another Boko Haram sect in the country.

Galtimari, in a statement made available to journalists in Maiduguri, the state capital, said: “The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has been branded as an insurgency group and therefore outlawed.

“We see what is happening in Kaduna State as similar to what happened in Borno State back in 2009, leading to a sorry state of affairs in the state.

“The BEF has no interest whatsoever in the existence or otherwise of the IMN. However, we are deeply concerned that a dark history appears to be repeating itself, and given our most horrifying experiences in the Northeast, we, as elders, owe you and our country the shared responsibility of pointing at potential
danger and advising on ways to averting it.”

He stressed the need to draw lessons from the ongoing Boko Haram crisis in the Northeast and pockets of other crisis across the country, adding: “It is necessary to take all the available routes to avert any further incidents.

“We wish to appeal to you to arrest the Kaduna situation and amicably settle all contending issues, so that peace will reign in Central Nigeria.

“Our harrowing experiences in the Northeast should be enough to guide us, as a nation, to cultivate peace and peaceful co-habitation.

“Your administration has done tremendously well to curb the activities of the Boko Haram. We are all hopeful to return to peace and the nightmare of igniting another religious crisis should be avoided.”