Plateau killings: Put end to anarchy, NLC tells Buhari

 

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently put an end to anarchy in Plateau state, where over 80 people were killed by suspected herdsmen.

 

President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the Congress was deeply saddened by the renewed violence in Barkin-Ladi and Riyom Local Governments of Plateau State and their environs; which led to the killing of over 86 persons, going by the police report.

Wabba said in a statement issued in Abuja that the governments should quickly move to rebuild the affected communities and restore shattered lives as well as put an end to this anarchy.

He, however, warned against reprisal attack, adding, “in spite of the fact that emotions understandably run high at the moment, it is important to appreciate the fact that reprisal attacks cannot bring the much-needed peace.”

He pointed out that the Congress was disturbed by the range of targets, the duration of the attacks and the scope of casualties and destruction.

He added that even in a full-scale war with another country, the statistics recorded in the attack are numbing.

In a statement titled: “Put an end to killings in Plateau State through pro-active measures,” Wabba condemned the killings in their entirety.

The NLC President said: “They are senseless and barbaric and threaten to shatter once and for all the bonds of brotherhood and peaceful co-existence.

“Accordingly, our security, though stretched, must be seen to do more to restore the confidence of the civil populace. If the emerging allegations are true that the attacks went on unchecked for hours, then something needs to be done about the reaction time of our dedicated internal security operations in the state.

He advised that the Federal and Plateau State Governments in consultation with the parties to the bloody conflict should design a framework for an enduring peace including taking pro-active measures.

Wabba called for serious dialogue, saying, “peace lies in dialogue and in squarely addressing the underlying causes of the problem. Time to frankly talk to ourselves is now.”