Yakubu Busari
Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives, PIDAN, has expressed sadness by the recent recurring killings in some parts of Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Jos South and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau State, where several lives were lost, many injured and several properties and settlements destroyed.
In a press statement made available by Stephen Sarki Musa Public Relations Officer of PIDAN, he described the attacks and maiming of innocent souls as unfortunate given the fact that it is coming at the time when the state was beginning to enjoy some relative peace. It further described the activities of these merchants of deaths as barbaric, inhuman, dastardly and unwarranted, which should be condemned by well-meaning citizens of not only Plateau State, but those of Nigeria and the international communities.
While we sympathize with the people and government of the state, relatives of the bereaved and injured, as well, as the affected communities, PIDAN calls for calm and advised the citizenry to be cautious of utterances that may further aggravate the situation. We appeal to the people of the state to be united and support one another at this trial times while the authorities should double its efforts to put a stop to the killings still going on.
PIDAN appreciates the steps taken to stem the crisis by the authorities. We wish to further make appeals to the state government to take additional and immediate measures to strengthen security, especially, in the affected areas and to ensure that the bereaved have access to the corpses of the dead for befitting burials.
PIDAN does not support any form of criminality and by extension does not support the idea of taking the lives of innocent people in the name of retaliation for cattle rustling.
Given the security situation in the country, PIDAN appeals to President Muhammadu Buhari to make immediate provision that allows Governors in high risk states to draw on the security operatives within their states, without any recourse to him, to wade off attacks, thereby preventing loss of lives and destruction of properties and settlements.
Furthermore, PIDAN appeals to the National Assembly to have an immediate look at the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to amending same to give the respective States Governors full control and powers over security operatives in their states. This will go a long way in giving them ample opportunities to nip in the bud any crisis that is likely to arise
Once more, PIDAN expresses its sympathy and condoles with the affected families and communities, and call for calm. It advises the citizens of the state to be law abiding and to report appropriately any suspicious moves.
PIDAN directs all the Development Associations in the state to guide their memberships toward achieving peace in their areas.
