The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern States (Northern CAN) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has condemned the killings by bandits in attacks on Plateau communities.
Over 260 people were said to have been killed in the attacks in 15 villages in Bokkos and Barakin Ladi Local Government Areas of the state.
Condemning the killings in a statement on Wednesday in Kaduna, Secretary of Northern CAN, Elder Sunday Oibe said the association was saddened by the barbaric attacks in Plateau state.
He said “Northern CAN is saddened over, yet another barbaric attacks by terrorists on communities in Barakin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu Locall Government Areas of Plateau State, which left over 160 people dead while 221 houses were said to have been set ablaze.
“This is one attack too many on the Plateau.”
The statement lamented that, “Since this democratic dispensation, Plateau has consistently suffered so much in the hands of terrorists and bandits.
“Very sadly the authorities have done little or nothing to put and end to the situation.”
Oibe said “Thousands of people have been killed by criminal elements without the perpetrators being arrested and brought to justice.
“This has given the criminals the impetus to freely move about
unleashing mayhem on innocent people.
“We are however hopeful that these killings will not be swept under the carpet as it had been the practice in the past following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to security personnel to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
“The President directed security agencies to fish out “these envoys of death, pain, and sorrow” as he described them and bring them to justice.
“This directive should not be the usual rhetoric we often hear from government officials when incidents like this happened.
“Mr. President must rise to the occasion to make a difference. It is time to take a decisive stand against murders.”
He said, “This kind of barbarism cannot happened even in animal kingdom. It is very unfortunate that in Nigeria, this kind of wickedness appeared to have become an acceptable norm as people get killed and little or no effort is made by the authorities to bring the culprits to justice.”
The statement called on President Tinubu to ensure that the security agencies abide by his directive.
“No society makes progress when criminals go about with sophisticated weapons, killing, maiming and destroying property without being apprehended and punished.”
Oibe said, (President must not allow Plateau or Bola Ahmed Tinubu any part of Nigeria to become ungovernable because of the activities of this gang of criminals who are bent on making life unpleasant to innocent Nigerians.
Life is already tough and hard on Nigerians as such, this act of maiming of innocent lives has to stop.
The association commiserated with the government and people of Plateau state over the unfortunate incident and pray for the repose of the souls of those killed and wish those injured speedy recovery.
We appeal to those who loss their loved ones to have faith and trust God by forgiving those who inflicted this pain on them, as only God can fight the battle for them.”
