By Winifred Bulus
The people ofSouthern Kaduna in Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria have expressed gratitude to the new military Operation Harbin Kunama II recently launched in the area.
President of Southern Kaduna People’s Union, SOKAPU, Solomon Musa, in an interview with AFRICA PRIME NEWS expressed gratitude to Nigerian army and Kaduna state government for launching Operation Harbin Kunsma II.
“We want the world to know that the 53 ethnic groups in Southern Kaduna are solely behind the success of the Operation Harbin Kunama. Southern Kaduna welcomes the operation with conscious optimism.
“It is our earnest prayer and desire that the military action reaches the interior villages, flat points, bushes and caves. We also call on the military to carry out the operation with courtesy and civility towards the people of Southern Kaduna.
Nigeria’s army chief, Tukur Yusufu Buratai recently launched the Nigerian army ‘Operation Harbin Kunama II’ in Southern Kaduna to end the killings that have been going on for years. The operation is focusing on areas between a forest in Kagoro and Kafanchan of Southern Kaduna.
The Nigerian Army is involved in humanitarian activities such as the provision of free medical outreach, renovation and reconstruction of a primary healthcare centre in places in Southern Kaduna.
The SOKAPU President also expressed concern over the Nigerian Army’s public announcement of the operation, saying it should have been an exclusive operation. According to the SOKAPU President, the public announcement of the Operation Harbin Kunama was a tactical error.
“The announcement of the operation might cause perpetrators of the attack to retreat for the duration of the Operation Harbin Kunama and return afterwards. Southern Kaduna wants to know the duration of this operation. We want to know if it is a lifelong operation or we should expect military withdrawal at some point.
“The military should not be bias in carrying out their duties. If there is partiality in the operation, the operation could be compromised. We wish the military the best, there success is ours too.”
Also speaking on the newly launch operation was the secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria Secretary for Jema’a local government area of Kaduna state, Pastor Sunday Buru. In his opinion, Operation Harbin Kunama, is a positive initiative that would hopefully bring an end to the calamity that has befallen on Southern Kaduna.
“Our people are living in fear and have nowhere to run to. It is our earnest prayer that all this will be over soon. The people have waited long for so long and are tired of living in fear.
“Farming is our main source of income and livelihood. To think that we have been restricted from going to out farms to harvest or plant crops is devastating. We are heading towards poverty, hunger and being economically backward,” he observed.
Mr. Ango Joe said, “There have been failed attempts in the past to solve the killing of our people. We hope this one will be different and effective. The free treatment is not getting to the interior villages, as claimed by the government. The health workers are located in the main town in Kafanchan and that is not the survivors of the attacks are. Those that have been injured for instance are far in the interior villages,” He said.
To Bavoshia Baye, the operation could only be sussessful if the army is determined that o bring it to an end, saying, “Several promises had been made in the past and all seemed to have failed. Attacks are still being carried out.
“I hope, the Operation Harbin Kunama is different and successful. I also hope that the army will not be one sided in carrying out the process. In the past we learnt some of them favored one group over the other.”
