Yakubu Busari
Following the despicable and cowardly murder of His Royal Highness, Saf Ron Kulere, Lazarus Agai who was attacked alongside some of his Aides by unknown assailants on the 18th July, 2016, and Governor Simon Lalong has received with a heavy heart the news of the sad and unfortunate incident.
In a statement he called on security Agencies to swing to action in order to unraveled the identity of those responsible for this heinous act, while also ensuring the maintenance of law and order.
The statement also stated that the Plateau State Government is indeed pained by the unfortunate wave of the killing of traditional ruler in Bokkos Local government Council and wishes to assure all citizens that it remains resolute in its effort and determination to work together with all peace loving citizens of the State, to secure and sustain the peace on the Plateau.
Lalong assured that Government is on top of the situation and is avowed on fishing out all enemies of the Peace that has returned to the State.
The governor appealed to all citizens and particularly residents of Bokkos Local Government to remain calm and not to engage in any act that is capable of aggravating the situation, but should rather volunteer all necessary information that will aid investigation to security operatives.
The Executive Governor express his deep grief, and conveys the condolences and assurances of prayers for God’s comfort to the family of the deceased, the people of Bokkos and the entire people of Plateau State over this tragic loss.
However, association under aegis of Yendel O Tarok Movement has strongly condemned the gruesome murder of the Saf Ron Kulere, HRM Lazarus Agai, the Safsha, his son and wife, orderlies and driver by Fulani herdsmen on Monday 18thy July, 2016 in Sha, Bokkos LGA of Plateau state.
The statements reiterated that killing of saf Ron was the second traditional leader killed by unknown gunmen who are the custodian of the people of Bokkos culture, tradition and land to send a message on Plateaus rejection, of the Grazing reserve/ranching policy which is most unfortunate and totally inhuman and unacceptable.
The Fulani’s are also responsible for other deaths in the Bokkos LGA before now, especially the death of Saf Marif in 2013, the Mile Bakwai massacre of 2012, Saf Manguna and his aides.
This must stop forth with or else we will have no option but to resort to self-help in view of the deafening silence of the Patron-General of the Miyethy Allah Association, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Sultan of Sokoto.
The statement further read thus; “Yendel O’Tarok Movement has noticed with dismay the rise in attacks by the Fulani herdsmen all over Nigeria when the Middle-Belt and the South-South, South East and the South west rejected the Grazing/Ranching policy of the federal Government aimed at seizing farmers land to give to the Fulani herdsmen.”
“One Adam Ahmad said on Facebook whether the Government will give ranches or not Fulani are indigenes of Plateau state and they will continue rearing their cattle all over the state,” but if you do us one we will do you too because any problem you hear in plateau, you infidels are the investigator and by that and by God’s grace we will take over leadership of the State very soon”.
“With the statement of Adam Ahmad you will deduce that the fight and the killing of Plateau people is religious, economic and political.
He called plateau people infidels, which they will take over our land, our economic resources and they will lead us eventually. God forbid, since we have gotten the message, the problem is half solved.
We knew what the Tarok land went through from 1992 till date, thus, we sympathize and condole with the people of the middle Belt region, Plateau state Government and its people, the traditional council and the people of Bokkos LGA over the gruesome murder of the Saf Ron-Kulere, Saf sha’s aides and child.
We Demand Police Commissioner’s Redeployment.”
Also Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Plateau State chapter said the late Saf Ron Kurele Lazarus Agai was a, “father,” to all in his domain.
The JNI issued by its publicity secretary Sani Mudi, said it strongly condemned the brutal, callous and senseless murder of the monarch along with three others.
“We view this dastardly act as a calculated attempt by enemies of the state to throw us into the dark era of bloodletting and chaos, which arrested our march to progress for several years, causing disruption in traditional ties of peaceful co-existence that had characterized relationship among diverse communities in our state,” it said.
The JNI said the cold blooded murder was unacceptable, adding that it strongly stand against it, calling on the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice without delay.
It said: “While we mourn the death of the Saf Ron Kulere, we recall with deep feeling his sense of fairness and fatherly love to all in his domain, which greatly contributed to the peace and growth witnessed in the area in the fourty years that he ruled..”
The JNI further appealed to the people of the state to be law abiding, control emotions and remain calm in; “order not submit to the evil desires of those who may wish to plunge us into another cycle of avoidable violence.”
It commiserated with the immediate family of the late monarch, the Bokkos traditional council, people of Bokkos and Bokkos local government council as well as the government of Plateau state, over the irreparable loss of the monarch.
Bokkos Frontier Forum finds as laughable and insensible the statement by the Plateau State Police Commissioner, Mr Adekunle Oladunjoye that the murdered Saf Ron Kulere, Da Lazarus Agai actually died as a result of an autocrash.
This statement by the supposed people’s friend and guardian is the most illogical and insensitive statement ever heard of in the history of insecurity in Plateau State. It does expose the level of insensitivity by the Police to the security needs of the people.
The Police Commissioner did say in a press conference in Jos on Tuesday 19, July 2015 that investigations were already on into the matter. But how comes he was already quick to conclude that it was an accident?
How is it possible for vehicles moving in a convoy to crash at the same time in a rough terrain like the Sha road where vehicles seldom move above 40km/h?
Assuming it is true that it was only the driver that was shot that eventually led to the crash as claimed by Mr Adekunle Oladunjoye, does a car drive itself? How can a car not crash when its driver is shot?
Some of our team members who had contacted the Police Public Relations Officer on the day of the incident, ASP Terna have submitted that the Police Headquarters was not in possession of any details as no report had been collected. How comes the CP speaks as though he was there when it happened?
Some of our men have taken photographs and videos of the late monarch’s corpse and our team of experts have analyzed it. There were no bruises or fractures on his body but wounds apparently inflicted using deadly weapons. How does the CP explain that?
In view of the above, BFF demands immediate apology from the CP, and/or his immediate redeployment as his statements signify incompetence on his part.
We further wish to stress that no amount of threats by the police would stop the teeming Bokkos youth from getting to the root of this incident which is one too many.
We can’t take it anymore.
