Tinubu: Festering Reprisal Attacks in Plateau, Benue Depressing, Avoidable

•Orders security agencies to fish out perpetrators of recent killings 

•Says suspects must face full wrath of law 

•Wants cycle of violence dismantled  

•House asks IG, NSA to declare national emergency 

•Benue governor proposes amnesty for repentant criminals

•Traditional ruler narrates gruesome killing of 30 people  

•Enugu, Kaduna governors seek military assistance to tackle insecurity

Deji Elumoye, Juliet Akoje in Abuja and George Okoh in Makurdi

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, described the reprisal attacks in the wake of recent communal clashes in Plateau and Benue states as depressing, needless, and avoidable. Tinubu directed the security agencies to bring to book the perpetrators of the killings in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State and parts of Benue State, insisting that the suspects must face the full weight of the law.

While reaffirming his government’s strong determination to stamp out violent crimes and all forms of criminality everywhere in Nigeria, Tinubu said the cycle of violence must be dismantled in the country.

The president’s pronouncements came as the House of Representatives mandated the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun (IGP), and National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to investigate the recent killings in Plateau State and ensure culprits were brought to book. The House also mandated the military taskforce in the area, Operation Safe Heaven, to identify and evacuate all cells of bandits within the state.

In Benue State, the governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, reiterated his administration’s readiness to grant amnesty to repented criminals. Alia voiced his displeasure over the recent killings in the Akpuuna area of Ukum Local Government Area of the state.

At the same time, the district head of Akpuuna, Tyoor John Kungwa, where gunmen reportedly killed about 30 people last weekend, said the attackers massacred his people as a way of intimidating them into submission.

Meanwhile, the governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, and his Kaduna State counterpart, Uba Sani, sought the assistance of the military to tackle spiraling insecurity in their two states.

Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, said he found very depressing the festering reprisal attacks, and needless and avoidable bloodletting among communities in Plateau and Benue states. He charged the governments of Plateau and Benue states and emergency response agencies to provide support and immediate relief to victims, who had been displaced as a result of the conflicts.

The president expressed sadness over the latest round of violence and killings in Plateau State. He condemned in strong terms the most recent internecine killings in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State and parts of Benue State.

Tinubu said in the statement, “It is most unfortunate that in this orgy of violence, an innocent eight-month-old baby in Farin Lamba community of Vwang District, Jos South Local Government, died in a conflict she knew nothing about.

“A major consequence of perennial conflict is always the tragic loss of innocent lives. To build virile, peaceful and prosperous communities demand tolerance and forgiveness for every perceived wrongdoing.”

To rebuild trust and restore harmony to these conflict areas, the president urged community leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers, socio-cultural organisations, as well as the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Jama’atu Nasril Islam, and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to work together to help foster genuine and long-lasting peace.

House Asks IG, NSA to Declare National Emergency

The House of Representatives, yesterday, mandated the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate and ensure culprits responsible for the recent killings in Plateau State were brought to book. The House also mandated Operation Safe Heaven to identify and evacuate all cells of bandits within the state.

The lower chamber urged the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to declare the killings as a national emergency.

These resolutions followed the adoption a motion of urgent national importance by Hon. Dachung Bagos, during plenary yesterday.

Bagos, while moving the motion, noted that the recent attacks in some local government areas of Plateau and some communities within his constituency had lingered for some months with damage to crops and farmlands.

Bagos stated, “Chapter IV Of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right to life, dignity of person and property of all citizen as well as security and safety.

“The provision on the security and right to life by the constitution. There has been an increase in the rate of insecurity and killing of innocent souls by persons, who have been tagged as ‘suspected herdsmen’ in Nigeria of which my state and my constituency have been part of the areas affected.

“Seven miners of my immediate constituency were gruesomely killed in cold blood on the 9th of July, 2023, around Farin Lamba of Jos South LGA, Plateau State. Most of my people live in fear of the unknown due to insecurity and can no longer access their farmlands with ease, which is their main source of livelihood.”

The House also urged the IGP to immediately provide a Mobile Police Force Squadron formation in Mangu communities of Mangu/Bokkos Federal Constituency, Plateau State and other affected communities to safeguard the lives of the people.

Moving the motion, Hon. Lalu David noted that the recent terrorist attacks on the people of Mangu Local Government Area and neighbouring communities, which killed more than 300 persons, with others seriously injured, properties destroyed and over 18, 000 people displaced at different internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps within the local government area were devastating. David also noted that most of the surviving victims were currently receiving medical attention at different hospitals within the state.

The lawmaker expressed worry that the continuous attacks by the terrorist groups in the communities, if not addressed properly, will lead to low farm yield, which will worsen the existing food uncertainty in the communities.

To this end, the House urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, to direct the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, to immediately provide relief materials to the victims of the attack in the affected communities, aerial surveillance and support to flush out the terrorists and destroy their camps to avoid reoccurrence and allow innocent farmers to return to their farms and ancestral homes.

The House further mandated its Committees on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Defence, Army, Air Force, Police and Legislative Compliance (when constituted) to ensure compliance and report weekly until the insecurity was brought under control.

Traditional Ruler Narrates Ordeal in Killing of 30 People

The district head of Akpuuna area of Ukum Local Government in Benue State, Tyoor John Kungwa, where gunmen reportedly killed about 30 people last weekend stated that the attackers visited mayhem on his people to try to intimidate them into submission. Kungwa made this known yesterday, when Governor Hyacinth Alia visited the community.

The traditional ruler said the attackers called him on phone, and asked if he knew the consequences of preventing them from operating in his domain.

“I told them I cannot compromise security in my domain. They now told me to get prepared as they were coming for me,” Kungwa explained. He added that the killings happened a few days after the attackers made their threat.

Kungwa said he had mobilised his people to resist advances by the gangsters into his domain, a development he said angered the attackers.

Alia, while consoling members of the community, reiterated his administration’s readiness to grant amnesty to repentant criminals. He expressed his displeasure over the killings that recently took place at Akpuuna.

The governor assured the people of the area of his administration’s willingness to root out all criminals and make the state free of crime.

Alia wondered why the hoodlums had chosen to hide in the forest, and come out intermittently to cause havoc. He reiterated his administration’s resolve to rehabilitate, train and reintegrate those currently hiding in the forests, if they repented and chose a life free of crime.

He warned traditional rulers aiding and abetting crime in the area to desist, calling on those hoarding vital information about the criminals and their activities to stop or face dethronement.

While re-echoing his administration’s open door policy for serious investors as well as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s great plans for the state, the governor warned that on no account should anyone in the state perpetrate acts that would discourage such plans.

He stressed his administration’s readiness for peace, insisting that anyone, who is not ready for peace should better leave Benue State.

Enugu, Kaduna Governors Seek Military Assistance to Tackle Insecurity

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and his Kaduna State counterpart, Uba Sani, yesterday, sought the assistance of the military to tackle spiraling insecurity in the two states.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja, Mbah sought the assistance of the military in tackling the activities of non-state actors in the state.

He stated that on assumption of office and with an improved economy of the state in mind, he had banned the sit-at-home order put in place by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which he said was undermining the state’s economy.

Mbah stated, “We made promises to our people, which include security of lives and property. In dealing with insecurity, we decided to adopt the kinetic and non-kinetic approach.

“We had to deal with the big elephant in the room. We had to end the sit-at-home. So far, we are getting support from stakeholders and we want the support of the navy in taming insecurity. We would be looking forward to partnering the navy to ensure peace and security in Enugu State.”

Mbah expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the appointment of the naval chief.

He said, “We expressed gratitude to the president for the honour he did to us by the appointment of one of us. The value and honour are not lost on us. I want to assure him that he and our state will not let him down. Greatness and honesty run in the DNA of people of Enugu State.”

In his remarks, Ogalla welcomed the governor on his maiden visit to the naval headquarters, and said the navy had maintained robust interactions with state governments.

He stated that the Nigerian Navy had ongoing operations and naval presence in Onitsha, Anambra State, and Oguta in Imo State, adding that, as part of the strategy of the naval headquarters, a strong naval presence would be established in Enugu.

Uba Sani, who paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja, called for further intervention, especially the deployment of more troops to Southern Kaduna, which is covered by Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), to curb the menace of bandits and other criminal elements in the area.

Sani lauded the efforts of Lagbaja in decimating bandits and other criminalities along the Abuja- Kaduna road as well as the Birnin Gwari general area during his command as GOC 1 Division.

Responding, the army chief expressed appreciation to the Kaduna State government for its support and partnership with the Nigerian Army towards the restoration of peace and security in the state.

Describing the state as a strong and dependable ally of the Nigerian Army, the COAS noted that Kaduna State held a special place in the hearts of military personnel, as it is home to several military institutions and formations.