Citing Escalating Insecurity, Lalong Extends Curfew to 24hrs

•IG deploys police intervention team •UNIJOS suspends ongoing exams indefinitely
•Govs, Wase, Atiku, others condemn killings

Chuks Okocha, Kingsley Nwezeh, Udora Orizu in Abuja and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Hours after imposing a dusk to dawn curfew on three Local Government Areas of Jos North, Jos South and Bassa of Plateau State, Governor Simon Lalong has directed the imposition of a 24-hour curfew in Jos North to contain escalating security threat.

The governor said, “From 2pm Sunday 15th August 2021, a 24-hour curfew will come into effect in Jos North Local Government Area. This is necessitated by security reports, which indicate rising threats to the safety of lives and properties within the Local Government.”

This is as the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, has ordered the immediate deployment of Police Intervention Team to Plateau State to carry out an on-the-spot assessment for forestall further disturbance of public peace.

Also, in view of the escalating security situation in Jos, capital, the University of Jos, has announced the suspension of its ongoing examinations indefinitely.

Similarly, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and many others have condemned the killings, describing it as both needless and mindless.

Lalong, in a statement by his Director of Press, Simon Macham, urged citizens to abide by the curfew and remain indoors to allow security agencies maintain law and order and deal with those bent on causing chaos.

He said the 24 hour curfew would remain in force until further notice.

His words: “Sequel to the unfortunate breach of peace along Rukuba road, Jos North LGA on 14th August 2021, where a convoy of commuters was attacked leading to killing of innocent persons, I have received briefings on the situation from the relevant heads of security agencies.

“The reports indicate that 23 of those attacked lost their lives while 23 persons sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment. 26 others were rescued unhurt. So far, 20 suspects have been arrested and the security agencies are conducting investigations to get to the bottom of the matter.

“Having reviewed the reports and monitored the unfolding scenario, government is concerned about the persisting tensions and reported attempts by some persons to take the laws into their hands by threatening to attack individuals and private facilities, as well as public property.

“In order to avoid further deterioration of the situation and to protect lives and properties of citizens, I have directed the imposition of curfew on Jos North, Bassa and Jos South Local Governments commencing 6pm to 6am from today, 14th August 2021. The curfew shall remain in place subject to further review by the State Security Council.”

“Again, citizens are to note that the 24 hour curfew in Jos North will take effect from 2pm today 15th August 2021”, the statement emphasised.

THISDAY, however, gathered that rioters attacked some worshipers in churches at Faringada and Terminus axes of the city, destroying properties and causing mayhem.

The IG, in a statement by the force spokesman, Frank Mba, said the squads were to ensure enhanced and coordinated response to protect the community as well as boost public confidence in the affected area(s) of the state in order to prevent further attacks as well as bring the perpetrators to justice.

The team, which comprised personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Special Forces, amongst others, was led by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, Sanusi Lemu.
Also deployed were investigators and covert operatives from the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) and the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), who were expected to provide additional investigative, intelligence and forensic support to the state command in the ongoing investigations and rescue operations.

The police chief enjoined citizens in the affected area(s) to support the security forces deployed to the hotspot by providing useful information that could lead to the arrest of other perpetrators of the crime and forestall any further attack.

“The IGP, while condemning the incident, has called for calm and assured victims and relatives of the attack that the Police are working with the military, other security forces and the State Government to ensure that all perpetrators of the unfortunate incident are brought to book,” the statement added.

From the University of Jos, a statement by the institution’s Deputy Registrar, Information and Publication, Mr. Abdullahi Abdullahi, advised students that were resident in the hostels to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary movements.

“Following the unfortunate security breach that occurred in some parts of Jos Metropolis, which has led the Plateau State Government to impose a 24-hour curfew in Jos North Local Government Area, Management of the University of Jos has approved the suspension of the ongoing second semester examinations for the 2019/2020 academic session.

“Consequently, all examinations earlier scheduled between Monday 16th and Saturday 21st, August, 2021 have been suspended until further notice.

“All Students of the University residing in the various hostels are hereby strongly advised to remain within their hostels of residence and avoid unnecessary movements as Management has been working round the clock in close collaboration with the security agencies and the Plateau State Government to ensure that the lives and properties of members of the University community, especially, students are adequately protected. Students that are resident outside the campuses are also advised to remain at home during this period.”

Furthermore, the university urged its staff to remain at home in compliance to the imposed 24-hour curfew.
“Similarly, staff of the University are enjoined to remain at home while the 24-hour curfew remains in effect”, the statement added, urging staff and students to exercise utmost caution and comply with security directives.

NUJ, PIDAN Fault Inciting Statement by Security Agent

The Plateau State council of the Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ) and the Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives (PIDAN), have condemned the unfortunate incident in the state on Saturday, where some commuters were confirmed killed with many others injured, but cautioned security agencies from further making inciting statements.
The Police in a statement had alleged that the skirmishes at Rukuba road on Saturday leading to the death of 22 people were carried out by ‘Irigwe youths’ on ‘Muslim faithful’.

While urging security agents to do their best to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice, the Union, in a statement by its Secretary, Mr. Peter Amine, advised security agencies that in trying to discharge their responsibility, they should avoid statements that could further polarise the society, pitting a religion or an ethnic group against the others.

“It is regrettable that a statement credited to a credible security outfit named a tribe as being responsible for the attack. It is also worrisome that a religion was also identified as the victims of the attack.

“Journalists on their part, must tow the path of caution, and exercise high level of professionalism in order not to worsen an already bad situation. They must avoid stories that are capable of inciting a section of the society against the other,” the Union said.

On its part, PIDAN described the press statement by the Plateau State Police Command of in the wake of skirmishes as insensitive and capable of generating hatred amongst the diverse ethnic nationalities in the state in particular and Nigeria at large.

PIDAN said, “We take exception to the statement credited to PPRO of the Police Command in Plateau State on the unfortunate incident at Rukuba Road, where he was reported to have said the killings and skirmishes at Rukuba road were carried out by Irigwe youths and their mourners.

“Rukuba Road is cosmopolitan and we do not know how he arrived at such a conclusion at such speed, when for weeks they have not been able to unravel the killers at Miango.”

PIDAN, in a statement jointly signed by its President and Secretary-General, Prof. Madaki JKA and Mr. Nanle Gujor, however, condemned the attack, urging security agents to do thorough investigation and bring perpetrators to book.

Govs, Wase, Atiku condemn Jos Killings

The Nigeria Governors Forum, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Idris Wase and a former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have condemned in its totality, the incident that led to the loss of 23 travellers around Gada Biyu in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, describing it as barbaric and tragic.

The governors said the killing has all the colourations of several others like it, where locals in particular parts of the country have become inhospitable and unwelcoming to other Nigerians living in or passing through their domains.

According to statement by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Head, Media and Public Affairs, Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat, “These dastardly actions of Nigeria’s once peaceful locals, which have resulted in unwarranted and needless deaths diminish us all as a people and pulls our country down to the deepest recesses of the absence of civilisation. They also cause all kinds of reprisal killings and injurious interactions that do nobody any good”.

The governors viewed with extreme disgust, the horrible and thoughtless loss of precious lives and declare unequivocally that it must stop forthwith.

They also called on the country’s security organisations to fish out all those involved and bring them forward to face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to those, who are contemplating similar action.

Wase, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Umar Puma, said the cause of the attack must be investigated with perpetrators brought to book.

While sympathising with the family of the victims, the deputy speaker called on citizens to be calm and refrain from reprisals, which could endanger the peace in the state.

He also called on the people of the state to have faith in the Governor Lalong-led administration in it’s quest in finding lasting solutions to the perennial crisis in the state.

He commended security agencies for their prompt response to the crisis, urging them to do all it takes to ensure that those involved in the dastardly act were arrested.

Atiku, in a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe said, the report of an attack on innocent travellers on a major highway in Plateau State stood condemned, just as those too numerous to mention across the country in recent time.

He commiserated with the families of the deceased for losing their dear ones and also in the gruesome and callous manner they met their untimely deaths.

He acknowledged that the security outfits were doing their very best in the current circumstance to make all of Nigerians safe, but said skirmishes like this and the pain accompanying it made all felt as though enough was not being done.

Atiku, therefore, said the federal government must continue to scale up security and give all moral and logistical support for security operatives to continue to face this battle and register victory that would restore peace and safety of lives and property to every Nigerian.