End The Bloodletting In Plateau

The recurring wave of violence and bloodletting in Plateau State have left in its wake, a trail of misery, destruction and avoidable death. The bestiality of the situation as well as the impunity of the perpetrators has plunged the people of the area and the nation as a whole into shocked disbelief and uncontrollable sorrow. The attacks on innocent lives and communities, such as the most recent tragic incident in the Farin Lamba community of Vwang District and the assault on Sabon Gari, highlight the urgent need for immediate and decisive action by the security agencies.

In one of the attacks in Farin Lamba community of Vwang District of Jos South Local Government Area (LGA) by gunmen, an eight-month-old baby and seven other persons were killed. According to the National Publicity Secretary of Berom Youth Moulders, Rwang Tengwong, the attackers arrived in the community when many of its residents had gone to bed. The assailants who came in a vehicle, opened fire on those heading home after the day’s activities.

The incident came a day after a similar attack was launched on the Sabon Gari community of Mangu LGA of the state where many lives were reportedly lost and houses burnt.

As concerned citizens, we feel diminished by these needless deaths that challenge our collective humanity. It is from that perspective that this newspaper owes itself, not just a duty, but an obligation to join other well-meaning Nigerians in condemning these senseless killings and demand that the newly appointed service chiefs fulfill their mandate to restore peace and security in the country and Plateau State in particular.

The statistics provided by the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA) and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) are deeply sickening. The death toll of over 200 villagers between April and July, along with the loss of 15 MACBAN members, underscores the urgency of the situation. Already, in some areas, entire communities have been ravaged, leaving behind a macabre scene of burnt houses, displaced families, and shattered livelihoods.

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Expectedly, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have condemned the recent killings in Mangu LGA of Plateau. We are, however, worried that these hasty acts of lamentation where action is needed are beginning to sound more like platitudes designed to calm frayed nerves until another orgy of violence elicits similar response.

In the meantime, we recall that President Bola Tinubu’s recent appointment of new service chiefs came with a clear mandate to bring an end to the cycle of horror and undesirable pain unleashed by vampires in human skin on innocent people. As concerned citizens, we urge the service chiefs to get on with the duty of delivering on their promise to restore peace within a specified timeframe.

In the considered opinion of this newspaper, the lives of innocent men, women, and children are at stake, and we cannot afford to allow these atrocities to fester.

As previously canvassed on this page, to break the cycle of killings, it is essential for the government, at all levels, to address the root causes of the violence. Plateau State has long been plagued by an unhealthy tendency of intercommunal conflicts, disputes over land and resources and deep-seated ethnic tensions. It is imperative, in our view, that the authorities engage in comprehensive dialogue with community leaders, religious organizations, and stakeholders from all ethnic groups to find sustainable solutions to these long-standing issues.

In our opinion, law enforcement agencies must prioritize intelligence gathering, surveillance, and proactive measures to prevent attacks before they occur. The recent attacks indicate a disturbing lack of security presence and responsiveness in affected areas. It is crucial, to say the least, that the new service chiefs promptly deploy well-trained personnel and equip them adequately to effectively combat the rising tide of violence in Plateau and elsewhere.

Tinubu Orders Security Agencies To Apprehend Perpetrators Of Plateau Killings

Building trust and fostering unity among communities is vital to creating a lasting peace. The government, in collaboration with civil society organizations, religious leaders and traditional rulers, should initiate community-based measures aimed at promoting dialogue, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

These efforts must prioritise the inclusion of youth, who often fall victim to recruitment by criminal elements, and empower them with education, skills acquisition and opportunities for a better future.

Also, to break the cycle of violence, justice must be served. Perpetrators of these heinous crimes must be identified, apprehended, prosecuted swiftly and transparently, regardless of their affiliations or backgrounds. This will send a strong message that impunity will not be tolerated and ensure that the grieving families find solace in the knowledge that their loved ones did not die in vain.

Consequently, the recent wave of killings in Plateau State demands urgent and decisive action. As a nation, we cannot turn a blind eye to the loss of innocent lives and the destruction of whole communities. In apparent helplessness, if not despondency, some political leaders in the area have called on the people to organize and defend themselves. While we appreciate their anxieties, we make bold to say that resorting to self-help may be counterproductive.

As a newspaper, we are committed to efforts by state operatives to restore peace and tranquility in Plateau. The people deserve nothing less than a future free from fear and bloodshed. Reliance on self-defence may not guarantee this in the long run.