Calm gradually returning to Kaduna as FG sends delegation

Chief of Defense Staff Air-vice Marshal Petinrin and Inspector General of Police Muhammad Abubakar were part of federal government delegation that visited Kaduna yesterday for on the spot assessment of the crisis that engulfed the state.Air-vice Marshal Petinrin said more troops were deployed to Kaduna from neighbouring states in order to enhance the present security situation.The federal government delegation was at Kaduna Government House where members of the delegation were received by Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa.Yakowa said the visit of the high-powered delegation was an indication that the federal government was committed to ensuring that peace reigns in Kaduna State and the country at large.The delegation visited some areas of the metropolis, where they promised that government would do everything possible to avert a recurrence of such crisis. The delegation cautioned Nigerians against taking law into their hands in the name of reprisals or other disguises.Meanwhile, areas like Anguwan Dosa, Ghana Road in Badarawa and some parts of Malali witnessed some pockets of violence yesterday but with quick intervention of security personnel, the situation was brought under control. Before the intervention of the security personnel, some houses and other properties were burnt in Unguwan Yaro in Badarawa.Reports from Barnawa and other areas in Kaduna South indicate that calm was gradually returning as there was no report of violence as at yesterday evening.Some residents of Barnawa area however complained of inadequate presence of security personnel, saying the situation was causing apprehension among them.Streets remained deserted, an indication that the 24-hour curfew is being observed, it was gathered. Some residents interviewed urged government to relax the curfew as some people had to move out before they could get what to put on the table with their families.However, a rescue services official said more than 98 people have died since Sunday after a trio of church bombings sparked reprisals in Kaduna State. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to journalists.Officials initially said 21 people were killed in Sunday morning's blasts, but now said the death toll jumped to 98, including reprisal killings. They refused to give a breakdown clarifying who died in the initial blasts and who was killed in reprisals.An AP reporter quoted spokesman of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency Abubakar Zakari Adamu as saying that parts of the state continued to riot as at yesterday.
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