4th July, 2011
Former Governor of Kaduna State and immediate past Senator representing Kaduna North Senatorial District, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has blamed security agencies for being unable to prevent and stop the 2011 presidential election crises across the north before they happened.
“We all saw the signs that crises were imminent but why the police and other security agencies were caught unawares I don’t know,” Makarfi stated.
According to him, there is need for police to embark on a more proactive security measure to safeguard the lives and properties of innocent citizens.
This, he said, is to avert crises similar to the 2011 post-election violence.
While speaking at a round table discussion organized by Nigerian Union of Journalists, Kaduna Council at Arewa House today, Makarfi also apportioned blame to most Nigerians, particularly religious leaders, who helped in fuelling the violence through inciting utterances and preachings.
He noted that crises of such nature will continue to erupt in the country except the police wake up to their constitutional responsibility of maintaining law and order.
Makarfi also urged the lawmakers to help make laws to punish anyone involved or linked to any form of crisis or violence .
“It is only when offenders are punished that we can forge ahead as a nation,” he said.
— Femi Adi/Kaduna