The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has described the killings in Plateau state as “reprehensible and utterly heartless”.
The Islamic body while reacting to the killing of over 260 people in an attack by bandits on communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of the state, called for an end to the persistent killings.
The JNI in a statement by its Secretary General, Prof. Khalid Aliyu, described the attacks as “reprehensible and utterly heartless”.
Aliyu said,”the JNI National Headquarters observed with dismay that the most recent attacks on the Plateau were well-orchestrated with perhaps ulterior motives to set the state on political and religious turmoil.
“Nevertheless, JNI unequivocally condemns with utmost sorrow and concern the dastardly acts of repeated killings on the Plateau and calls on security agencies to intensify efforts in fishing out the culprits and get them punished accordingly.”
The statement said, “It is pertinent to place on record that such acts of killings call for concerted efforts in ending them once and for all, as the recent past killings of over one hundred Tudun-Biri worshippers in Kaduna State, and several others are becoming the new normal particularly in the North and in Nigeria in general.”
Aliyu urged the federal government to rise to the occasion and act decisively, as human lives seem to mean nothing anymore in Nigeria.
The JNI declared that “criminals MUST not be emboldened in whatever disguise; otherwise, the Nigerian state will become a failed state, if acts of criminalities are not adequately penalised”.
The statement added that “Plateau state should not be allowed to return back to dark days of unfortunate bloodbath, as human lives seem not to matter to the disgruntled elements within the state.
“Why must the Plateau people allow themselves to be used by miscreants and senseless humans at all cost?
“Plateau people should tell the world that they prefer peaceful coexistence than anarchy. Enough of the bloodletting please!
“We nonetheless call on all the good conscience to propagate the mission of peace, tranquility, humility, and humbleness, for no one has the right to live, over and above the other citizens in Nigeria. “Moreover, we cannot be humans without humanity.
“Life is sacrosanct and must be seen to be so in Nigeria, and for sustainable peace to reign, there MUST be retributive justice for all, regardless of whatever considerations.”
