Following renewed attacks in Kagoro Chiefdom, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the popular annual festival which normally ushers in the New Year in the area, was replaced with a prayer summit.
The prayer summit which was organised by the chiefdom in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation Global Peace Foundation, Nigeria, was aimed at praying for the land, her people and the repose of the souls of those killed during the attacks, as well as an end to the barbaric attacks.
Speaking earlier at his palace in Kagoro, the Chief of Kagoro, Dr. Ufuwai Bonet, said his people now live in fear as the attackers have promised to invade their communities again.
He expressed worry about the motives of the attackers even as he said their doors were wide open to discuss whatever grievances they have, instead of taking the laws into their hands.
The paramount ruler appealed to the security agencies to investigate and arrest the perpetrators with the aim of bringing them to book.
Dr. Bonet however, commended the Global Peace Foundation for accepting to partner the chiefdom to bring about lasting peace to the area and hoped that the New Year would bring forth new lease of life for the people.
In a remark during the prayer summit, the Country Director, Global Peace Foundation, Rev. John Hayab, said the programme was organised to put the enemy to shame and to encourage the people not to lose hope in search for lasting peace.
He explained that the foundation which is a non-sectarian, non-partisan, non-profit organisation is working with the community to promote an innovative, values-based approach to peace building, guided by the vision of one family under God.
In his remark, Chiefdoms’ Peace Committee Chairman, Mr. Sule Kambai, thanked the people for agreeing to come out en masse to pray for the land, in spite the recent attacks in the area that led to the death on many souls.
The PUNCH reports that the occasion which had the theme ‘Looking up to God in times of trouble’, drew participants from both the Christian and Muslims faiths.
Meanwhile, the Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Mr. Gideon Gwani, has appealed to the government to hasten the delivery of relief materials to the affected victims of renewed attacks in his constituency.
Speaking on the sidelines of the prayer summit held in Kagoro on Sunday, the lawmaker, who represents Kaura Constituency at the National Assembly, also called on the government to increase security presence in the area to forestall further attacks.
He said though the New Year celebrations in the area was with mixed feelings, the people should not completely lose hope, instead they should continue to be security vigilant at all times and protect their land.
Gwani also appealed to the security agencies to be more proactive in forestalling attacks rather than being reactive.
He also called for the arrest of the perpetrators of the recent attacks in Kagoro Chiefdom and other parts of Southern Kaduna so that the perpetrators would be made to face the wrath of the law.
He urged the people to ensure they get their permanent voter cards so that they can actively participate in choosing those that would steer their affairs during the forthcoming general elections.
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