- Tinubu directs security agencies to apprehend culprits
- Says Nigeria needs peace, stability to move forward
- Northern elders knock military over murders
- Amnesty International urges FG to probe massacres
Monday’s killings of 96 persons where 221 houses were set ablaze during the Christmas Eve attacks by gunmen in Plateau State have attracted strong condemnations from eminent Nigerians and groups on Tuesday.
The State Commissioner of Police, Okoro Alawari, disclosed the casualty figure on Tuesday in a statement signed by the command’s spokesman, Alfred Alabo.
According to survivors’ accounts, Monday’s attacks were carried out by persons believed to be herders who displaced thousands of settlers and destroyed property worth millions of naira.
Consequently, President Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to scout for and apprehend the culprits of the attacks.
Condemning what he called a “primitive and heinous” attack, Tinubu said, “These envoys of death, pain, and sorrow will not escape justice.”
A statement signed Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, read, “President Bola Tinubu strongly condemns the heinous and brutal attacks in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State, which resulted in the tragic loss of many lives.
“President Tinubu directs security agencies to immediately move in, scour every stretch of the zone, and apprehend the culprits.
“The President also directs immediate mobilisation of relief resources for surviving victims of the primitive and cruel attacks as well as a medical treatment for the wounded.”
While condoling with the government and the people of Plateau State, Tinubu assured Nigerians that “these envoys of death, pain, and sorrow will not escape justice.”
Nigeria needs peace, stability to move forward – Tinubu
In another development, President Tinubu said that the federal and state governments of Nigeria have the mutual responsibility of ensuring the country’s peace and stability.
Speaking during a meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum at his residence in Lagos on Tuesday, the President reiterated his condemnation of the latest killings in Plateau State.
Addressing the governors, the President issued a stern directive to security agencies to halt the carnage in Plateau State and intensify the pursuit of those responsible for the recent tragic events in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas.
Condoling with the victims, President Tinubu emphasized the sanctity of human life and called for a paradigm shift among those with contrary beliefs, cautioning them about the inevitable consequences of their actions.
“Nigeria needs peace and stability to move forward. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we have to take care of it,” he said.
President Tinubu acknowledged the presence of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State at the meeting, commending him for his efforts to peacefully resolve the political challenges in the state.
“I thank you for your statesmanship. I listened to your broadcast and your emphasis on peace. It is only with peace that effective governance can thrive, and governance has commenced in earnest under my watch,” he said.
On the 2024 Budget proposals before the National Assembly, the President informed the governors that he had a review meeting earlier in the day on certain elements in the Appropriation Bill, with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
He emphasized the need for joint responsibility and closer collaboration between the federal and sub-national governments to foster rapid infrastructural development in every part of the nation.
“I want us to discard federal, state, or rural road classifications. We must regard development as a joint responsibility. Let us prioritize our children. The school feeding programme must return quickly, beginning from the local government to the state and federal governments.
“We must be ready to protect our children and prepare them for the future,” the President firmly stated.
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq expressed solidarity with the government and the people of Plateau State.
“May God be with the souls of the departed and bring peace to Plateau State. The Governor of Plateau State, we are with you; stay strong,” the NGF Chairman said.
Governor Abdulrazaq reaffirmed state governments’ support for the bold decisions and reforms initiated by President Tinubu’s administration.
“These are challenging times. It is not a walk in the park. Removing fuel subsidies had a great structural effect on the economy of the states. But we are confident that we will overcome these challenges and bounce back better,” he said.
Northern elders knock military over killings
Also, the Northern Elders Forum has condemned what it described as “devastating” and “heinous attacks” on five communities in Plateau State on Sunday, describing it as the latest in a series of coordinated attacks, rampant killings, and mass displacements that have plagued the northern region.
In a statement signed by NEF Convener, Prof Ango Abdullahi on Tuesday, the forum stated that it had reasons to suspect the government’s operational methods while raising concerns over the inability of the military to prevent the Christmas Eve killings despite claiming to have received 36 distress calls from different locations in the state.
“NEF strongly condemns this devastating act and expresses its heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this heinous crime. It is deeply distressing to witness the continuous deterioration of security in the conflict-affected areas of the North, which has led to countless lives being lost and a pervasive sense of fear and instability amongst the communities.
“Moreover, NEF expresses concern over the inability of the military to prevent the Christmas Eve killings, despite claiming to have promptly responded to 36 distress calls from different locations in Plateau State in the 48 hours leading up to Christmas.
“This highlights the Forum’s growing suspicions regarding the efficacy and sufficiency of the government’s operational methods. NEF questions whether the strategies employed by the government are flawed or grossly inadequate, given the audacious regularity and ease with which the attackers operate across the northern region”, the statement read.
While also raising concerns over the loss of lives of two persons, and the kidnap of 25 others, including the wife of the Village Head in Ruwan Dorawa Village in Zamfara, Abdullahi demanded an investigation into security lapses that resulted in the kidnap, adding that the report must be made public, while those responsible are held accountable.
The statement added, “NEF is also deeply concerned about the recent security incident in Ruwan Dorawa village, Zamfara State. The tragic event that unfolded on the same Christmas Eve resulted in the loss of two innocent lives and the abduction of over 25 individuals, predominantly children and women, including the wife of the village head.
“In light of this incident and the escalating security challenges faced by the region, NEF urgently demands a comprehensive investigation into the reported security lapse in Ruwan Dorawa village.
“The findings of this inquiry must be made public, and those responsible for the security breach must be held accountable to ensure justice for the victims and prevent such incidents from reoccurring.”
Meanwhile, in his Christmas message, Abdullahi called on “all citizens and stakeholders to offer fervent prayers for the nation’s safety and security”, while also calling on religious leaders to lead followers “in supplication, beseeching divine intervention in bringing an end to insurgency, terrorism, and all forms of criminality.”
He added that the Forum remained committed to working closely with the government, security agencies and other stakeholders, to achieve lasting peace and security in the Northern region.
Abbas condemns fresh Plateau killings
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Tuesday, condemned the fresh attacks in communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State on the eve of Christmas.
Reacting to the development, Abbas in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, described the attacks as barbaric and heinous
He noted with concern the trend of attacks by gunmen, bandits and other criminals, who kill innocent Nigerians for fun
He charged the security and intelligence agencies to forestall further loss of lives and property on the Plateau and other parts of the country even as he urged them to go after the perpetrators of the dastardly act, apprehend and bring them to book.
“Nigeria has recorded too many losses of lives and property under attacks, and this trend must stop forthwith,” Speaker Abbas stated.
The Speaker, while commiserating with the people and the Government of Plateau State, prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed and comfort for their families.
Plateau killings most cruel acts of inhumanity, Shehu Sani laments
Similarly, a former member of the Senate, Shehu Sani, has decried the recent killings and destruction of properties in Jos, Plateau State.
This was according to a statement on his X account on Tuesday.
According to him, the attacks which were carried out by the assailants in 15 communities of Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of the state also left eight vehicles burnt in the process.
Lamenting, the former lawmaker described the incident as the most cruel act of inhumanity.
He said, “I watched the video of the outcome of the massacre in Plateau state. This is one of the most cruel and evil acts of inhumanity I’ve ever seen.
“Should we condemn it and unequivocally demand for justice or should we continue with the complicit practice of the deodorisation of mass murder using religious or ethnic sentiments?
“The scene of a baby crying on the back of the corpse of its mother is a horror that should haunt the conscience of every responsible citizen of this country.”
Amnesty International urges FG to probe massacres
In the same vein, Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the security lapses that enabled the attack in Bokkos and Barki-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
According to the organisation over 140 people were killed by gunmen across 20 villages in the two LGAs.
In a statement on Tuesday by the AI Country Director, Isa Sanusi noted that their investigation showed that the armed men operated for more than 48 hours moving from one village to another.
Sanusi said President Tinubu must set up an independent panel to investigate the failure of security agencies to repel the attack on the villages hours after they were attacked.
The statement read, “The Nigerian authorities must investigate the inexcusable security lapses that allowed the horrific killing of over 140 people by gunmen across over 20 villages of Bokkos and parts of Barkin-Ladi local government area of Plateau state.
“Our investigation shows that the gunmen were on a rampage of killing and destruction for more than 48 hours, moving from one village to another. Apart from the Bokkos Local Government area where the attacks started and lasted hours, the gunmen also crossed into Barkin Ladi local government area and killed dozens of people in Hurum, Daruwat, Maiyanga and NTV villages.
“President Bola Tinubu must set up an impartial, independent and effective panel to investigate the apparent failure of security agencies to halt the bloodshed hours after villages that were attacked were gathering dead bodies of those killed and conveying those injured to hospitals.”
He noted that the patterns of these attacks showed that the authorities had neglected the communities.
“Patterns of recent deadly attacks on the rural areas of Plateau State, clearly show, the Nigerian authorities have left these communities at the mercy of rampaging gunmen. Nigerian authorities’ failure to tame the tide of this violence is costing people’s lives and livelihoods, and without immediate action, many more lives may be lost,” the statement added.
Sanusi noted that despite several promises by the president to curb insecurity in the country, the attacks in Benue, Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina showed Tinubu was paying lip service to the security of lives and properties.
He said, “Although President Bola Tinubu promised to put in place new ways of addressing increasing insecurity in the country, the attacks in Plateau State and recently in some parts of Benue, Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina state show that protecting lives and property is low on the list of the government’s priorities.
“Issuing statements condemning the attacks is not enough and genuine commitment to protecting the people must be demonstrated by ensuring justice.”
