Southern Kaduna youths protest, stop El-Rufai’s convoy

There was mayhem in Kafanchan, in Jema’a Local Council area of southern Kaduna yesterday, as youths protested against Governor Nasir El’Rufai’s handling of killings by Fulani herdsmen.

The governor had visited Kafanchan, a day after a clash occured between the native Christian majority in the town and the resident Hausa/Fulani Muslims.

The natives were said to be on a peaceful protest against the killing of their villagers and the burning of their houses, when they were attacked by Muslim youths.

According to an eyewitness, the fight that followed led to the burning of some churches and a mosque, as well as the looting of shops belonging to Igbo traders at the Kafanchan main market.

The governor had earlier imposed a 24-hour curfew on the southern part before visiting to assess the damage.

However, the angry youths defied the curfew and barricaded the governor’s convoy, forcing the security personal and soldiers to forcibly clear the road for a continuation of the tour.

Another account stated that El-Rufai had visited the Emir of Jema’a where he convened a security meeting at the council’s secretariat.

At the meeting, hundreds of bare-breasted women reportedly stormed the secretariat to protest against the killing of a youth by soldiers.

“The governor addressed the women in an unpleasant manner, which provoked them to rain abuses at him,” the source said.

He explained that as the governor drove away from the place, a group of boys emerged from the bush and threw stones at his convoy.

According to him, the convoy was again attacked at Kagoro-Manchok, forcing it to detour to the palace of the village chief about two kilometers away from the scene.

Meanwhile, the official resident of the Chairman, Interim Management Committee of the local council, Mr. Humble Katuka was burnt in the process.

When our correspondent made a phone call to the police spokesman, Aliyu Usman, he did not respond to it.