Kaduna State Government said the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Agwai (rtd), has agreed to be the chairman of a committee to stamp out attacks on communities in the southern part of Kaduna state.

This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Kaduna by Mr Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr Samuel Aruwan.

It stated that the committee is charged with the responsibility to recommend ways to stamp out attacks on communities in the southern part of Kaduna State.

It added that the committee was part of the government's multi-dimensional approach in finding lasting solutions to the killings in the area, which have continued since the post-election violence of 2011.

According to the statement, the committee's terms of reference, is to identify socio-political and economic factors that promotes existing conflicts in Southern Kaduna and advice on measures to be taken by Government to address them;

“To explore ways of finding mutual solutions that engender reconciliation among and between communities in Southern Kaduna; and to advice on how the villages and communities of Southern Kaduna would be free from attacks bedeviling it.

“The committee has 30 days within which to complete its assignment and submit its report,” it added.

Agwai was also the former Chairman of Subsidy Re-Investment Programme (SURE-P).

Similarly, in the ongoing efforts to contain the security challenges in parts of the state, the governor on Friday held an emergency meeting with heads of security agencies in the state.

The meeting reviewed the security situation in the state following attacks in Katsak and Danborno villages in Jema'a and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas respectively.

The meeting also appraised the deployment of security personnel and stressed the importance of traditional rulers, religious leaders and other critical stakeholders in strengthening intelligence gathering and maintaining peace in the area. (NAN)

•Photo showas Rtd. Gen. Agwai.