El-Rufai Clarifies Media Interview On Terrorists’ Threat

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai yesterday said his media chat where he revealed showing President Muhammadu Buhari the terrorist threat viral video did not suggest that security agencies failed to brief Buhari.

A statement issued by the governor’s special adviser, media and communications, Muyiwa Adekeye, urged the media to exercise restraint and ensure contextual accuracy in reporting to avoid issues that may arise from or be lost in translation.

The statement said: “The suggestion and storylines by a section of the media that this amounted to a failing by the security agencies to brief Mr. President is not what the governor expressly said in the Hausa language interview.

“Malam Nasir El-Rufai hosted a live media chat in Hausa on Wednesday, 27 July 2022. One of the questions he fielded related to the deteriorating security situation. His response included a reminder of the fact that he had for at least five years advocated for robust action against the terrorists that are menacing our people, including bombardments of their locations”

“He further disclosed that he briefed President Muhammadu Buhari last Sunday about the gravity of the security situation and informed him that the terrorists had made threats to abduct the president and himself.

“As a digitally-active governor with a significant presence in the social media, he was the first to draw the attention of Mr. President to the viral video making the rounds that day.

It is incumbent on him to share information with the president, without prejudice to any security or media reports that the president may receive from any other sources. The president had not seen the viral video at that point in time.”

Meanwhile, following threats by terrorists to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Nasir El-Rufai, palpable fear has gripped Kaduna residents.

Although, Kaduna State commissioner for internal security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan, had in a recent statement urged residents  to maintain vigilance but go about their normal activities as agencies work assiduously to eliminate threats.

LEADERSHIP Weekend checks revealed that, many Kaduna residents are living in fear as business activities in some areas like Maraban Lido, Kakau, Juji village among other settlements especially in the night have been paralysed due to security threat.

A resident of Kakau along Abuja road, Tule Yavga, narrated:” We are always in fear over kidnappers. Some of us don’t sleep with our two eyes closed any more as a result of the activities of bandits. Many Kakau residents have relocated to Kaduna main town. Many houses here are empty. Our social life is almost zero here in Kakau because anything from 6pm many people do go home. Many relaxation gardens or joints are just managing to survive as people don’t stay there in the night”

In Maraban Rido, suburb of Kaduna, Chuks Eze, said the economic activities almost grounded:”Things are going down here in Maraban Rido due to bandits attacks and threats in this area. Business patronage is low as some don’t sleep in Maraban Rido again. They come in day time and leave in the evening. We are living in fear” he said.

Many residents living in satellite areas of Kaduna town have been kidnapped, as some killed despite payment of ransom.