The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Arewa Youths Conservative Forum (AYCF) have condemned the recent killings in Plateau state.
In a statement on Sunday in Kaduna, the two groups expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident.
On Wednesday, gunmen invaded several communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau state, killing over 50 people while many houses were destroyed.
The ACF, in its statement, described the killings “disheartening and frightening attacks by terror gangs on defenceless communities.”
The statement signed by Tukur Muhammad-Baba, spokesperson of the ACF, called on the federal government to live up to its constitutional responsibility by ensuring the security of life and property of citizens.
“ACF deeply mourns the dead and unequivocally condemns the attacks. The forum particularly extends sympathy and condolence to the affected communities, the government, and the people of Plateau State.
“The forum identifies with the deep pains of families of the victims, prays to God to grant the deceased eternal rest, for surviving victims to be fortified with strength to bear the losses and for quick return to full health for all who suffered injuries”, the statement said.
The forum drew attention, “for the umpteenth time, to the deterioration in the state of security in Arewa communities and elsewhere in Nigeria.”
The ACF declared that “The killing spree on the Plateau must be stopped immediately, and peace must return to the state.”
It called on the federal government to “declare a state of security emergency on vulnerable and banditry-prone communities and to initiate effective early-warning and early-response strategies that incorporate the participation of community members.
The ACF also urged the federal government to intensify efforts in “actionable intelligence gathering, processing and deployment by relevant security agencies so as to establish the immediate and remote causes of the latest skirmishes. investigate, identify, arrest, and prosecute perpetrators and enablers of the attacks. ”
The statement further called on the government to fully compensate the victims of the incident.
On its part, the AYCF called for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.
The AYCF statement signed by Yerima Shetima said, “The perpetrators of these heinous acts must be brought to justice, and it is imperative that the government takes immediate and decisive action to prevent further bloodshed.
“We at AYCF express our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and the affected communities who have suffered irreparable losses.
“The pain and trauma caused by such violence cannot be understated, and it is a reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive security reforms.”
The statement expressed solidarity with the people of Plateau and demanded action that prioritizes the safety and dignity of every Nigerian citizen.
