Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna State, has denounced the killing of two herders by a crowd in the state's Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, released a statement on Sunday in Kaduna that included a denunciation.
He claimed that according to security agency reports, the crowd took the two herders away from security guards by force after hearing unfounded rumours that they were involved in banditry.
He claims that after the herders were not found guilty of the accusations, the crowd lynched and set them on fire.
El-Rufai vehemently denounced the extrajudicial executions and voiced his serious concern over the mob's violent behaviour.
He emphasised that using legal means is the only way to deal with any suspicion of illegal activity.
The governor urged the victims' families to maintain their composure and instructed security services to launch extensive investigations in an effort to identify the offenders.
El-Rufai also gave the Ministry for Internal Security and Home Affairs instructions to coordinate with the military, police, and DSS to get in touch with the families of the victims for additional engagements in an effort to prevent counterattacks.
He forbade additional acts of self-help and warned against harmful stereotyping, labelling, and other illegal attitudes that could incite violence.
The governor urged the persistent use of established agencies for dispute resolution.
The government has also commissioned a covert inquiry into the actions of some people and organisations in the region, who unintentionally make the security situation worse with their offensive public remarks.
According to the report, security officials have determined that such acts are ineffective in continuing operations against terrorists and criminals.
“The government of Kaduna state is not against commentaries on security challenges.
“The government’s position remains that individuals and groups with useful information should liaise with security agencies, rather than expose citizens to extreme danger through supposed advocacy.”