The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State, Samuel Arunwa has explained why reports of security breaches from the state always make headlines in the national dailies.
Kaduna state, one of the six northwest states in Nigeria has been faced with intense security challenges since the beginning of the Nasir El-Rufai administration which came into existence in 2015.
Speaking exclusively on TVC News’ This Morning show, Mr Arunwa disclosed that while the security issues in the state is not applicable to it alone, cases from the state often dominate major national dailies because of its strategic nature.
He said the state is strategically located within its northwest circle and the distribution of ethnic groups across the three dominant regions.
He however said the Kaduna State Government is not averse to reporting on security incidents across the state, but that the activities of some media, in the method and manner in which they do not separate security concerns from politics, religion, and ethnicity, does not improve the situation.
He said “If there is an attack in Birnin-Gwari, you report the matter as bandit attack but if the same problem occurs in Kajuru, the same issue is reported as a religious issue. This is not helpful.
“The very moment you begin to talk about religion, ethnicity, i believe you’re giving shield to criminals. We should look at the actions of individuals and those individuals should be held accountable by what the laws says about the offences committed”.
He maintained governments’ stance of not negotiating, or giving money to outlawed groups still remains the same.
Arunwa remarked that it is practicable for governors to admit to seeking a middle ground in every dispute since every option must be explored.
“You cannot close all the options, there might be backdoor conversations, outreach, etc but by the time you explore, all that you think is available for you to do and the result is not forth coming, then you change tactics”.
