El-Rufai Planned Southern Kaduna Killings – Defence Minister Musa

Defence Minister Christopher Musa has accused former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai of deliberately planning the killing of people in Southern Kaduna during his time in office. Musa made the allegation on Thursday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, where he also discussed the political and security situation in Kaduna State.

The minister alleged that the administration led by El-Rufai created serious divisions among residents of Kaduna, particularly between people from Southern Kaduna and those from the northern part of the state.

According to Musa, the divisions became so deep that residents from one part of the state were allegedly unable to freely live or move to the other part without facing tension and insecurity.

He said the situation created a climate of distrust and separation across Kaduna State. Musa, however, said the administration of Governor Uba Sani had taken steps to bring residents together and rebuild confidence among different communities.

The Defence Minister acknowledged that the process of restoring unity in the state was not yet complete but said there had been visible efforts by the current administration to improve relations among the people.

Musa also spoke about the feelings of residents of Southern Kaduna towards El-Rufai, saying the region continued to carry the pain of the killings recorded during the former governor’s tenure.

He alleged that the former governor was directly involved in planning attacks that led to the deaths of people in Southern Kaduna. Musa said the wounds left by those incidents remained fresh among affected communities.

The minister also referred to past public comments attributed to El-Rufai concerning his administration’s dealings with bandits. Musa said such statements had contributed to the anger and disappointment felt by some residents.

According to him, the number of people killed in Southern Kaduna during the period had left many families and communities traumatised. He said the security situation in the area had since improved compared with what residents experienced under the previous administration.

Musa further accused El-Rufai’s government of denying some residents access to opportunities because of political, regional or other considerations. He alleged that the former governor’s actions affected people from different parts of Kaduna, including some communities from his own area.

The Defence Minister said political leaders should not use religion, ethnicity or other differences to create divisions among Nigerians. He called for leaders who would bring people together and work towards a more united country.

Musa argued that politicians who rely on religious or ethnic differences to gain support can create deeper problems for communities and the nation as a whole.

He urged Nigerians to be more careful about the leaders they support and to reject political strategies that promote division. According to him, the country needs leaders capable of building trust across ethnic and religious lines rather than exploiting differences for political advantage.

The minister’s comments come amid continued political discussions over the legacy of past administrations in Kaduna State, particularly the security challenges and communal tensions that affected parts of the state.

While Musa made serious allegations against El-Rufai, the claims remain his assertions and would require independent evidence or findings from relevant authorities to establish them as facts.