Over the weekend, a terrifying description of the attacks on communities in three Plateau State local government areas was presented on the Senate floor.
The Nation notes that Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) captivated the Red Chamber with his account of the nearly 200 individuals who were massacred by bandits.
He said the bandits had placed their weapons at various locations throughout the towns before the attacks.
The details were obtained by Ningi, the chairman of the Northern Senators’ Caucus, during his two-day visit to the state.
He visited hospitalised patients in Jos, the state capital, and had a meeting with Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
“The accounts I heard about the attacks were astounding,” he remarked.
Over my Christmas vacation, I was in Bauchi when it happens.
As soon as the news leaked, I moved into the Plateau on behalf of the Northern Senators Forum.
“I met with the governor twice. Nothing like what had happened in Bokkos before. A group of more than 400 bandits launched the attack at once. The stories I was told were astounding.
“This attack was first reported to have occurred. Secondly, the governor attempted to disseminate this information, but his efforts were met with disbelief.
When I was at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), a three-month-old child with a gunshot wound was visible. Three months! A few had their heads chopped off. This has never happened before.
It was found that these roving bandits had not been carrying any weapons. Those weapons were kept in specific pla
They simply came and selected them, that was all. This implies that there is a reason for the events taking place in Plateau.
“Why are these people doing this, and who are they? Since you would assume it is a religious conflict if you were to visit there.
“This Senate needs to find out what’s going on behind it. It’s a really awful occurrence.
“After four years, members of the National Assembly are shown the way out, and the Constitution even includes a recall clause.
“Our constituents will be asked to recall us if you are unable to fulfil your obligations, and elections are held every four years.”
“We cannot continuously do all of these things and expect any different outcome. The whole atmosphere of the North is one of insecurity.
Ningi spoke as she supported a motion. by Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central) on the Plateau mayhem.
The Senate ratified the motion with a resolution to summon the service chiefs.
Also to be invited are National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Magaji Bichi; Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
The Senate observed a minute silence and resolved to send a high-powered delegation to the state.
The Senate called on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to direct its agencies and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide building materials to the victims with immediate effect to enable them to return home and decongest the IDP camps.
The Red Chamber also urged the IGP to complete the mobile police barracks in Barkin Ladi.
It urged the Chief of Defence Staff to establish a mobile military base in Kerang Village, in Mangu Local Government Area, which “is a border point and an entry route for the criminals who commit these barbaric acts and escape freely”.
The Senate further urged the military to deploy intelligence and aerial surveillance in the affected local government areas and their environs.
It also urged the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, “to immediately take action in putting a check on illegal miners and mining activities in the country, especially the crisis-prone regions.”
Additionally, the Senate urged the Plateau State Government to “strengthen its environmental mining laws to check the excesses of illegal miners in the state” as well as “to upscale dialogue between traditional and religious leaders, especially in the affected crisis areas, to find non-kinetic solutions towards curbing the crisis.”
It also resolved to issue such further directives as deemed expedient in the circumstance to ensure compliance with its resolutions.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the killings as a “very unfortunate, barbaric and terrible tragedy for Nigeria”.
He said it was “a black Christmas for the country because the level of killings was unprecedented and the number of villages affected simultaneously was also unprecedented”.
“It is very clear that these attacks were very well coordinated and therefore we believe there was failure of intelligence and failure of timely reaction and the Senate is taking this very seriously.”
Father, son, vigilante killed in fresh attack
Three persons were killed in the attack by assailants in Durbi village of Shere district, Jos East Local Government Area on Saturday night.
Transition Implementation Committee Chairman, Markus Nyam, said the attackers invaded the village and killed a father and his son.
Nyam also said a member of the vigilantes, who engaged the assailants, was killed as the attackers fled.
The Joint Security Task Force Operation Safe Haven personnel responded to the community’s distress call, preventing the attackers from causing more damage.
COAS: Arrests made
Lt-Gen. Lagbaja said some suspects in the Christmas Eve killings have been arrested and that security agencies are on the trail of others.
He led other Service chiefs on visits to the communities at the weekend.
Addressing members of one of the attacked villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Gen. Lagbaja said: “Some people have been arrested. We will not reveal their names now because the investigation is still ongoing.
“We are still on the trail of some other people. We desire to round up everybody involved in this carnage in line with the directive of Mr President to ensure lasting peace in Plateau.”
He said the federal government was working to ensure that all the displaced persons returned home and that the communities were provided adequate security.
“We need your support as a people. We need the cooperation of the people to help the troops to succeed. Help us with information, and provide support to these troops.
“We are working towards ensuring all the displaced return to their ancestral homes as quickly as possible. Accept our condolences and our assurance that going forward this will not occur again,” Gen. Lagbaja said.
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, accompanied by his Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation counterpart, Betta Edu, told Governor Mutfwang that the visit was on the directive of President Tinubu.
He said: “We are here on the directive of the President to commiserate with you and assure you of total commitment toward securing the lives and property of the people.
“I want to assure you that this incident will not occur again; these criminals will be crushed soon.”
Matawalle assured the governor that the humanitarian needs of the victims would be addressed.
“This is why the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs joined this delegation; she is expected to ascertain the humanitarian needs of the people,” he said.
A traditional ruler, Edward Bitrus, said it was the “saddest Christmas in all my 70 years in life”.
“We have been living peacefully in our community. I then wonder what led to these killings.
“Our children may not resume schools in January because the economic bases of the families have been razed by the attackers.
“Our investment in dry season farming has become a waste because the owners of the farms have been killed or displaced.
“Government must fish out these attackers so that victims will get justice,” he said.
Police deploy more men
Plateau Police Command said it has deployed more men to the troubled areas.
The spokesman, Alfred Alabo, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said in a statement: “As part of measures to protect lives and properties in the affected areas, the Commissioner of Police, Okoro Alawari, has placed a ban on all forms of late-night spiritual and social gathering in Bokkos, Barkin-Ladi, Riyom and Mangu Local Government Areas.”
Also, the Plateau State Tourism Corporation & organisers of the Jos Christmas Festival announced the cancellation of all remaining events at the Jos Christmas Festival.
About the Author
