Plateau Killings: Stakeholders caution against indiscriminate granting of bail to suspects

Plateau Stakeholders have vowed to unite against the return of violence to Plateau State and cautioned against indiscriminate granting of bail to persons suspected in attacks as well as the politicisation of crimes.

The stakeholders comprising of former governors, traditional rulers, religious leaders among others arrived at this resolution, after an emergency meeting summoned by Governor Simon Bako Lalong to examine the ways of restoring normalcy and permanent peace to the state.

It called for the prosecution of those making inflammatory statements and circulating fake news and hate content adding that decisions should be taken against religious, community and traditional leaders preaching hate or inciting people to violence.

To arrest the ugly trend, the stakeholders suggested prompt arrest and decisive punishment of suspected perpetrators of attacks through diligent prosecution and tasked the state government to strengthen community policing structures for intelligence gathering and early warning pending the approval of state policing.

It equally suggested payment of compensation to victims of various crises and rehabilitation of displaced persons and also continuous dialogue and engagement among various communities and conflict groups through the facilitation of the Peace Building Agency and the State Inter-religious Council.

The stakeholders commended the roles played by President Buhari, Governors of Ondo and Bauchi, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, CAN, JNI religious and community leaders and security agencies for their roles in calming the situation and stopping the situation from escalating.

In his address shortly before the stakeholders went for a closed-door meeting, Governor Simon Lalong said despite the huge investments that have been made in peacebuilding and crime-fighting, Plateau is again confronted with the activities of criminals who are bent on reversing the gains made in the last six years.

He said in recent weeks and months, the state has witnessed isolated cases of attacks on some communities in Jos North; Riyom LGA; Bassa LGA; Barkin Ladi and Jos South Local Government Areas.

“In most of these attacks, farmers, as well as herders, were either killed or cattle and farm crops destroyed. Houses were also burnt down and people were rendered homeless. The human losses due to the destruction are very worrisome as it continues to fuel the endless circle of attacks and counter-attacks,” he said.

The governor regretted that while these efforts were ongoing to bring those behind the unfortunate attacks to justice, another unfortunate breach of peace along Rukuba Road, on Saturday, 14th August 2021, where a convoy of five buses with passengers returning from a religious festival in Bauchi State heading to Ondo State was attacked.

This act he said was most despicable which brought about the imposition of a 24-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area in addition to the dusk to dawn curfew in Bassa and Jos South LGAs to curtail the total breakdown of law and order.

Lalong charged the stakeholders including Elders, past and present political office holders, representatives of CAN and JNI, PIDAN, women and youth groups as well as traditional rulers to brainstorm honestly and come up with valuable suggestions as to what can be done to settle once and for all, the cycle of violence that was almost being forgotten before the recent ugly developments.

The meeting was attended by former Governor Jonah Jang, Chairman of the Plateau Council of Chiefs and Emirs, His Majesty, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, National and State Assembly Members, and religious leaders.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Plateau Killings: Stakeholders caution

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.  Plateau Killings: Stakeholders caution