The Nigerian Army has revealed the cause of killings in Southern Kaduna.

According to the army, the incessant killings were a reprisal perpetrated by the Kataf youths, the Fulani militias and the criminal elements of both sides.

Commander of Operation Safe Haven, Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, while speaking on Tuesday, July 28 in Kaduna State revealed the cause of killings in the Southern part of the state.

According to the army commander, the incessant killings were a reprisal perpetrated by the Kataf youths, the Fulani militias and the criminal elements of both sides.

Okonkwo made the disclosure to reporters following a security meeting attended by the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at the state government house on Tuesday.

Also present at the meeting are representatives of security agencies in the state.

The commander in his submission condemned also the media for being one-sided in the narrative of conflicts in the state, which many have labelled ethnic cleansing.

“What we have were attacks on some communities and reprisal attacks. The reports are not balanced. Perhaps, most of the media houses don’t know, both sides are actually involved,” Okonkwo noted.

‘’You have Kataf youths, Fulani militias and the criminal elements of both sides. Some people are also leveraging on the security situation to perpetuate their criminal activities, aside communities involved in the crisis,’’

According to him “any incident is enough to spark off crisis in that area, there have been lingering disputes and animosities, banditry and cattle rustling there.’’