House Minority Caucus Alleges Collusion, Conspiracy in Plateau Carnage

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has alleged that there was an act of collusion and conspiracy in the bloodletting going on in Plateau State.

The Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, in a statement issued Thursday, said what was more sinister was that warnings of impending attacks are unheeded by security agencies, coupled with the apparent  unwillingness of the political leadership to arrest perpetrators and nip the violence in Plateau State in the bud. 

The caucus said: “The invasion of five communities and the killings of over 70 persons by unknown gunmen in Gashish and Ropp Districts of Barkin Ladi and Bokkos Local Government Areas of Plateau State on Christmas eve have raised national and global concerns about the security of persons in Nigeria, particularly the North-central region of Nigeria and murders that have gone for too long on the Plateau.”

It stressed that these murders, which have become the cyclical outcomes of inter-communal violence in Plateau State, showed how grievances between communities could be turned into organised violence by unidentified groups and persons who use violent methods to address perceived differences. 

The caucus added that when Jos was turned into an infernal theatre and a killing field in which 1,000 people lost their lives in 2001, many thought that the violent expressions of differences had reached the zenith.

It said unfortunately, more attacks followed in Jos, Wase, Langtang North, Langtang South, Shendam, Mikang, Qua’an Pan, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom, resulting in many deaths and the destruction of properties. 

The caucus pointedly doubted that the reasons adduced by observers for the sad state of affairs, which ranged from internecine fights between indigenes and settlers for natural resources to inter-ethnic rivalry ensuing between ethnic groups, no longer appear plausible, in view of the increasing rate of attacks, sophistication of invasions of communities, and the anonymity of the perpetrators of the attacks. 

It noted that there was something about this anonymity which makes the murders of the Plateau sinister.

According to the caucus, “What is more sinister is that warnings of impending attacks are unheeded by security agencies, coupled with the apparent  unwillingness of the political leadership to arrest perpetrators and nip the violence in Plateau State in the bud. 

“If the accounts of witnesses are to be believed, what stands clear is the act of collusion and conspiracy in the bloodletting. The murders on the Plateau have gone on for too long and must be stopped now!.”

The caucus extended its condolences to the Government and People of Plateau State over the murders. 

While appreciating the efforts and sacrifices of the military and other security agencies thus far, it called on and encouraged them to commit more and be unrelenting in tackling the crisis until victory is assured for all.

It also called on the National Assembly Security Committees to draw strength from Sections 4, 88 and 89 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, to commence a proper and detailed investigation into the persistent murders and proffer legislative solutions to end same.