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Tag: plateau killings

  • Plateau killings: Equip state-owned security outfits, women tell FG

    A group of women in Plateau, known as “Women for Women and He for She” has, in response to recent killings in Plateau State, called on the Federal Government to equip the state-owned “Operation Rainbow” to compliment the regular police and other security agencies in the state in securing citizens of the state.

    Dr. Jophia Gupar, state coordinator of the women, who read the text of the conference, said, “We want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for visiting Plateau State and sharing in our grief, but we demand a total overhaul of the security system in the country as reports from various quarters indicate that the security apparatus in the country has been compromised.

    “We deserve security officers we can trust. We also call on the government that the state-owned security outfit, Operation Rainbow, should be well equipped and properly utilised since it has presence in all the 17 local government areas of the state.

    “We want to also suggest that the Federal Government bring in all retired security personnel who abound in Plateau State and the nation at large, whose wealth of experience can be harnessed, to brainstorm and come up with a template which can be used to mitigate, nip future occurrences in the bud.

    “In conclusion, we call on the peace loving people of Plateau State, who have lived together for years in peace with their neighbours, to remain patient, calm and prayerful, and to put the unfortunate incident behind them and forge ahead.”

    The women also noted that, “it is disheartening that Plateau State, which has enjoyed some form of peace in the last few years, has now been thrown into another spate of killings and destruction of properties. Most worrisome to our movement is that as is usual in any crisis situation, the women and children who are the most vulnerable are the worse hit.

  • Obaseki condemns Plateau Killings, commiserates with victims

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has condemned killings in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas in Plateau State and commiserated with victims of attacks, urging for urgent action to end the spate of killings in different parts of the country.

    In a statement, the governor, who said that it was regrettable that such wanton attack could be meted on fellow countrymen, stressed the imperative for peaceful coexistence and tolerance in curbing conflict among different groups.

    The governor commiserated with the families of the deceased, noting, “It is with a heavy heart that I received the news of the death of about 86 persons in a conflict that erupted in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas of Plateau State.

    Read Also:Plateau killings: PDP knocks Presidency for kicking against call for mourning

    I reiterate without equivocation that these deaths are not only needless, they must be put to a stop and those behind them should be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

    He said the government and people of Edo State join in mourning the loss of lives on the Plateau, assuring that they are not alone in their moment of grief.

    “The recent killings would weigh on the conscience of any Nigerian, who values human life and stands for peace and progress of our country. I stand with the people of the affected families and local government areas in this sad moment of our history as a people,” he stressed.

    Calling for urgent action to stem the spate of violence, he said, “The killings, once again, put a question on the internal security architecture of the country. Urgent steps must be taken to protect Nigerians, which is one of the primary duties of government. It is not out of place to, at this juncture, call for a review of the security architecture to respond to the peculiar needs of the Nigerian people.”

  • Plateau Killings: Residents on guard against attack

    Following the recent killings that has continued in Barkin Ladi, Gashish, and several villages, residents of Jos, Plateau State have opted for keeping watch all night.

    At Abbatoir Junction, most residents could not sleep Tuesday night as they ordered their youths to stay up and watch in case of any possible  of any attack.

    Going from house to house, members of the age groups armed themselves with clubs and formed patrol gangs.

    In the wee hours of the midnight at the boundary hill right to Abbatoir complex, some persons were spotted moving on the mountain in vantage positions and while some Christians patrol groups stayed together in anticipation of  imminent attack.

    Read Also: Plateau and other killings

    In other to forestall any attack in the volatile area where both Christians and Muslims resides; a Christian delegation went to meet the Muslim community by a communication mast where their peace talks lasted for some time.

    In the end, both parties resolved that they were equally at watch for any Fulani herdsmen attack in case it spreads further to the city centre to avoid the other group misinterpreting the attack as inter tribal.

    The peace talks lasted long till 3am, but both groups resolved to sending the people away to prevent panic brewing in the area.

    “This evening, a meeting will be called by the head of the age group to speak to the youths on matters on insecurity,” said the leader of the youth group in black.

  • UPDATED: We’ll try our best to stop killings – Saraki

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said on Wednesday the National Assembly would play its roles in the efforts to end killings in the country.

    Saraki gave the assurance in a chat with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, also attended the meeting convened by the President following last weekend’s attacks in Plateau State where about 90 people were killed by suspected herdsmen.

    He said: “We met with the President to first of all commiserated with him and get a briefing from him. During the briefing, he explained how steps are being taken to forestall reoccurrence and restore sanity because this is a great concern to him and to us also.

    “To see what can be done with NEMA and security agencies, we will all work towards it. Nobody is happy with the situation and we will all come together to ensure that we restore sanity.

    “We commiserate with all families, it is our own intention to also go and pay our own condolence visit to the people of Plateau State.

    “Our general appeal at the end of the day is that we all live together in peace and harmony and we will continue to do our best to see that this kind of thing does not happen again.”

    Dogara expressed condolence to Mr. President, the government and people of Plateau State over the killings in the state.

    The Speaker said the President has briefed them on what he saw during his visit to Plateau on Tuesday and measures he is putting in place to prevent reoccurrence.

    He said: “These are very sober moments for all of us in a situation where people in hundreds are continued to be killed and we can no longer tolerate this kind of situation as a government.

    “Whatever it is we must not lose the fight against violence because we can’t lose that fight and still keep our civilization.

    “If you go to the North East you can see the level of devastation caused by Boko Haram. Everything resembling progress from schools to hospitals to government institutions had been pulled down. And we don’t want a replication of this all over the country.

     

  • Plateau killings: Buhari meets Saraki, Dogara in Aso Rock

    *We’ll try our best to stop killings,  Says Saraki 

    *Nigeria can’t afford to lose fight against violence  –  Dogara 

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Wednesday assured that the National Assembly will play its roles to urgently end the spate of killings in the country.
    He gave the assurance when himself and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Saraki said “We met with the president to first of all commiserated with him and get a briefing from him. Part of the briefing he explained how steps are being taken to forestall reoccurrence and restore sanity because this is a great concern to him and to us also.
    “To see what can be done with NEMA and security agencies, we will all work towards it, nobody is happy with it and we will all come together to ensure that we restore sanity.
    “We commiserate with all families, it is our own intention to also go and pay our own condolence visit to the people of Plateau.
    “Our general appeal at the end of the day is that we all live together in peace and harmony and we will continue to do our best to see that this kind of thing does not happen again.” he said
    Dogara expressed condolence to Mr. President, the government and people of Plateau state over the killings in the state.
    According to him, the President has briefed them on what he saw first hand when he visited Plateau Tuesday and measures he is putting in place to prevent reoccurence.
    He said “These are very sober moments for all of us in a situation where people in hundreds are continued to be killed and we can no longer tolerate this kind of situation as a government.
    “Whatever it is we must not  loose the fight against violence because we can’t loose that fight and still keep our civilization.
    “If you go to the north east you can see the level of devastation caused by Boko Haram everything resembling progress from schools to hospitals to government institutions, everything has been pulled down. And we don’t want a replication of this all over the country.
    “The President has taken enough steps, these are security issues, they are not matters that you can discuss but he has told us what he is doing, the reorganization that he plans to put in place to ensure that this don’t happen.
    “My advise to our people not just Plateau State, Benue, Zamfara, Taraba virtually some communities faced with this situation especially in the north, I think the issue of securing our communities, living in peace must be taken as a project, is something each and everyone of us must invest in whether as traditional rulers, as community leaders, councilors, chairmen, all strata of society must invest in peace building.
    That is is the only way we can live in a secure community and ensure that we progress as a country.” he said

  • Plateau Killings: Order arrest of mastermind, ADP, UPP tells Buhari

    The Action Democratic Party (ADP) and the United Peoples Party (UPP) on Tuesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to put action to his promise by ensuring that masterminds of Sunday brutal killings in Jos were brought to justice with immediate effect.

    In separate press statements signed by the National Chairmen of the two parties, Engr. Yabagi Sani and Chief Chekwas Okorie respectively, they said that the failure of the President to order the immediate arrest of those responsible will make him to lose face and perceived to have compromised.

    Engr. Sani explained that the current perception held by the people is that the government of President Buhari is shielding killer herdsmen and this must be proved otherwise.

    ‘If the government fails to respond appropriately on this Jos killing , the nation may be driven into a situation where every citizen will fend security for themselves and this could spell doom” he said.

    According to him, it is a good thing that Vice President Osibajo visited to commiserate and have first hand knowlege but it would have been more appropriate for the President to personally visit as he did to Bauchi recently.

    Sani admonished all Nigerians to condemn the act as barbaric and genocidal doing everything possible to help this government that appear clueless and helpless.

    At ADP we commiserate with the People of Jos and admonish the government of Plateau State to be proactive with security in the State and not play politics with the lives of the people.

    On his part, Chief Okorie said “We are saddened beyond description by the recent massive destruction of lives and property of the people of Plateau State by bands of Fulani insurgents in a well-coordinated mayhem.

    This is one attack too many. This particular attack has attained the proportion of a genocide
    which has put Nigeria on the world map for reasons we should all be ashamed of.

    “We fervently urge President Muhammadu Buhari to pay urgent attention to the security architecture of Nigeria.

    We urge the Nigeria Police, especially the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to deploy the same technology that he has used to crack recent armed robbery and kidnapping criminal activities where the perpetrators escaped and within a short time most of them were rounded up with the use of modern technology of which the general public has applauded the Police.

    Read Also: Plateau killings: Buhari calls for peace

    “We believe that these terrorists communicate among themselves and with their sponsors within and outside Nigeria. It is therefore unacceptable that the Police Force that has been equipped with modern technology has not been able to make any significant breakthrough or made arrest of these blood hounds who have made life so short and brutish in many parts of Nigeria.

    “If no urgent steps are taken to check the activities of the insurgents, the political campaigns leading to the much expected 2019 general elections may be seriously jeopardized as no meaningful campaign can take place in volatile and dangerous environment, including the fact that very low and poor voter turnout will be expected in the areas that are unsafe.

    “Such eventuality will not only constitute a major setback to the consolidation and growth of our democratic process, it will also be a major minus to the improved number of registered voters so far recorded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who are looking forward to participating in the 2019 general elections in an unfettered and safe environment.”

  • Atiku, Turaki knock Fed Govt over Plateau killings

    Two presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a former Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, have knocked the Federal Government over Sunday’s mass killing of Plateau villagers

    In separate interviews yesterday in Abuja, the two politicians blamed the security approach adopted by the Federal Government in the management of the crisis.

    Describing the killings as unfortunate Atiku said: “It is not every security breach you use hard power on. You need to establish dialogue between leadership of various communities that lived together over the years.

    “So the issue of using mere crude and hard power is not the only solution. There is also the need to use soft power on the issue of peaceful coexistence among communities”.

    On his part, Turaki, blamed the killings on the failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government for failing to address security lapses across the country.

    Turaki said: “If you recall, a few months ago, the National Security Agency had appeared before the Senate and disclosed that the greatest problem that the Nigeria security agencies have today is that the agencies work at cross purposes.

    “There is no cooperation, there is no synergy. If critical security agencies are not sharing information or working together, then how do you expect them to come up with tight security architecture that will safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians? And that is what is happening”.

    Turaki, however, expressed the confidence that the PDP had all it takes to reclaim the leadership of the country in 2019 and return the country to a path of growth and prosperity.

    He said: “The PDP has men and women of impeccable integrity. Men and women that are known to be bridge builders, that have the needed education and experience. That is why we say PDP is different from every other political party in the country.

  • Plateau killings: Buhari calls for peace

    President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed for calm in Plateau State after 86 people where killed by Fulani Herdsmen.
    The President said this on Tuesday in Jos at a meeting with stakeholders on the current security situation in Plateau.
    It would be recalled that scores of the people were killed in several communities across four local government areas of the state.
    Vice President Yemi Osibanjo was in the State on Monday where he  assessed the situation and also interacted with stakeholders.
    “I contested elections to protect lives and properties and that I will do.
    “As Commander-in-Chief, I will continue to put pressure on the security chiefs to do what is needed of them,” he assured.
    The President appealed to the people of to bury their differences and work together for the peace of the state.
    He urged the residents to learn to live in peace with one another.
    Buhari condemned the killings and charged the leadership at every level to be awake to their responsibility of driving the peace process.
    He commiserated with the bereaved urging the leaders to  pass his message of condolence to those who lost their  loved ones.
    Gov Simon Lalong thanked the President for coming personally after the visit of the  Vice President where far reaching decisions were reached after exhaustive discussions, attended by key stakeholders.
    Lalong outlined steps taken by the government to descalate the crisis with support from the federal government.
    He also  thanked the President for considering appeals for the establishment of Police Mobile Unit at Gashish, a flash point, and for the plans to compensate victims of the crises.
    He, however, appealed to him to ensure those found to be behind the crises face the full wrath of the law.
    “Mr President those who have been arrested and found guilty should be punished.”
    Lalong said that all the parties involved in  the killings were guilty as there was no justification for their actions.
    The governor condemed acts of  annexation of ancestral lands saying that his administration would not allow anybody to take another persons land.
    He also condemned cattle rustling and other vices that negate peace building.

    The President was accompanied on the visit by the governors of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, and Niger, Sani Bello.

    Others, were the ministers of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau and Information and Culture, Lai Muhammed.
    Also with President was the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar and the Inspector General of Police,  Ibrahim Idris.  (NAN)

  • Plateau Killings: Security harass Ezekwesili, others (Video)

    Oby Ezekwesili, the former minister of education and convener of BringBackourgirls campaign was on Tuesday harassed by security operatives at the presidential villa gate in Abuja.

    According to EIE Nigeria, they were harassed while protesting against recent killings.

    A video on the ‘Enough is Enough Nigeria’ official Twitter handle, shows the protesters being disrupted by security operatives.

  • Plateau Killings: Buhari arrives Jos (Video)

    President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Jos, Plateau state on Tuesday .

    According to his Personal assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad,  the President has visited Jos to condole with people and government of plateau state over the recent killings, and also meet with community leaders and other stakeholders.