- As CAN, ACF, HURIWA, other groups condemn senseless killings
National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Sunday the headquarters of Operation Safe Haven in the Plateau State capital, Jos, saying the federal government had begun to address the security breaches in some communities in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) of the State in which over 50 people were killed by terrorists.
Ribadu, who told stakeholders at a meeting that he was in Plateau following the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to restore normalcy to communities recently attacked by terrorists, “commended security agencies for their timely response in curtailing the situation.”
Spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Major Samson Nantip Zhakom, said in a statement that “the NSA charged Plateau residents to prioritise peace, and learn to live together as one. He appealed to the media to ensure due diligence and transparency while reporting sensitive incidents, especially as it concerns security.
“Mallam Ribadu, assured the people that the Federal Government will ensure all arrested suspects in connection to the recent attacks are brought to justice. He, therefore affirmed that the improvement in the security setup will be sustained to deliver more operational successes in the country.
“The National Security Adviser was earlier briefed by the General Officer Commanding 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN, Major General Folusho Oyinlola on the current security situation of the Joint Operations Area.”
Specifically, the NSA said. “We are going through tough times, difficult times, but it’s not going to be forever. The issue of security is for all of us. We all have to come together. Everyone has a role to play. But I think that communities—those who have been living together for years and decades—it’s time for us to say enough is enough.
“Our security forces are doing well. But our communities can do even better. I think it’s time to say enough is enough. We have lost many people. But it’s not exactly like the figures you see out there. But even one soul lost is a lot.
“We also appeal to the media to verify and report accurate and appropriate information. Telling the truth helps us get through this together. It helps us feel. It helps us keep our contracts and live in peace and security,” the NSA said.
He commended the armed forces and other safety services for the work they are doing, pointing out that —acting instantly in the middle of a crisis—Nigerians should continue to be grateful to members of the armed forces and the security services.
The NSA said the intermittent crisis has been a long-standing issue which can only be addressed by looking at it from the point of what was happening before and what is happening now.
He further narrated that when people who live together as one community are unable to resolve issues peacefully, miscreants and criminals take advantage.
“We are learning lessons from it. But I can assure you—things have changed and improved and will get even better as we move forward across the country and on the Plateau as well. This incident we witnessed over the last 10 days—hopefully, we will not see it again. And that’s why I’ve come with this message,” he said.
Meanwhile, ripples of the killings in Plateau State continued as more and more people and institutions condemned the development considered barbaric.
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory condemned the killings, while commiserating with the governor of Plateau State and the people of the state.
Describing it as “yet another senseless bloodshed,” CAN, in a statement by its northern chairman, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, expressed concern over “a disturbing and recurring culture of violence that continues to claim innocent lives across Northern Nigeria.”
The association said it was completely unacceptable, barbaric and tragic, an attack that left at least 52 people dead.
According to the Northern CAN, “We condemn in totality this strange and evil culture of taking human lives. Hiding under religion, ethnicity, or any guise to unleash terror on communities is unacceptable.
“Our societal value for human life has dangerously eroded, and this must not be allowed to continue.”
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Arewa Youths Conservative Forum (AYCF) also condemned the killings.
In a statement in Kaduna, the two groups expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident.
The ACF, in its statement, described the killings as “disheartening and frightening attacks by terror gangs on defenceless communities.”
The statement signed by Tukur Muhammad-Baba, spokesperson of the ACF, called on the federal government to live up to its constitutional responsibility by ensuring the security of life and property of citizens.
The statement said, “ACF deeply mourns the dead and unequivocally condemns the attacks. The forum particularly extends sympathy and condolence to the affected communities, the government, and the people of Plateau State.
“The forum identifies with the deep pains of families of the victims, prays to God to grant the deceased eternal rest, for surviving victims to be fortified with strength to bear the losses and for quick return to full health for all who suffered injuries,” the statement stated.
The forum drew attention, “for the umpteenth time, to the deterioration in the state of security in Arewa communities and elsewhere in Nigeria. The killing spree on the Plateau must be stopped immediately, and peace must return to the state.”
It called on the federal government to “declare a state of security emergency on vulnerable and banditry-prone communities and to initiate effective early-warning and early-response strategies that incorporate the participation of community members”.
The ACF also urged the federal government to intensify efforts in” actionable intelligence gathering, processing and deployment by relevant security agencies so as to establish the immediate and remote causes of the latest skirmishes. investigate, identify, arrest, and prosecute perpetrators and enablers of the attacks.”
On its part, the AYCF called for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.
In a statement by Yerima Shettima, it said, “The perpetrators of these heinous acts must be brought to justice, and it is imperative that the government takes immediate and decisive action to prevent further bloodshed.
“We at AYCF express our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and the affected communities who have suffered irreparable losses.
“The pain and trauma caused by such violence cannot be understated, and it is a reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive security reforms.”
League of Northern Democrats (LND), led by the former governor of Kano State, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, also condemned the killings, stating that it is alarmed at the escalating state of insecurity along the Bokkos-Mangu corridor in Plateau State.
In a statement by the Spokesperson of the League of Northern Democrats, Ladan Salihu, it said the gruesome killing of 52 innocent lives in Bokkos was a dent on humanity.
According to Salihu, “We condemn this heinous act of brutality and criminality. We extend our deepest condolences to His Excellency Governor Caleb Muftwang, the Government and People of Plateau State over this devastating and tragic incident.”
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), backed claims by the Mutfwang that the frequent bloody attacks by suspected armed herders were coordinated acts of genocide against the native people of the state.
HURIWA reminded President Bola Tinubu that his primary constitutional duty was to provide security to the lives and property of citizens.
The group asserted that security forces had failed to arrest the key sponsors neither had any of the real killers known to have been arrested, prosecuted and punished sternly in compliance with the extant laws against mass murders.
HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, advocated that rather than shout just like a mere observer, the president of Nigeria, with all the powers to command the armed security forces, should mandate the relevant commanders to go after the sponsors and the killers within a given timeline or be dismissed from their positions in the armed forces of Nigeria.
HURIWA said Tinubu should be decisive, authoritative, bold, courageous and above all act like a statesman and not a politician.
