Deborah Akinyosoye
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State yesterday apologised to the people of Bassa Local Government Area for the failure of government and security agencies to protect lives and properties, as condemnations trailed the killings.
This is as a survivor of the attack lamented that his sister wouldn’t have died if she had not, out of fear, run out of her hiding.
The governor’s apology came on a day former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in the 2023 elections, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, ex-governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, and the northern chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, condemned the killings and tasked government to punish the perpetrators. Recall that no fewer than 52 persons were killed last Sunday night at Zike community of the LGA, barely two weeks after same number of persons were slaughtered in Bokkos Local Government Area of the state, bringing the total killed to 104.
The governor, who gave the apology at the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Miango community of the state, said: “I will tell you the truth, I have been crying since yesterday (Monday) because I had trusted God that all the arrangements were put in place, that this will not happen again. We have made investments in security. “But like all human arrangements, sometimes they fail. I want to admit that on Sunday night into Monday morning, we failed you. Please, forgive me.”
He urged the people not to relent in their efforts to secure their communities and ensure that they complement security agencies’ efforts by providing vital information for intelligence gathering and expose the antics of the criminals.
Governor Mutfwang, who was in the company of security chiefs and members of the state executive council, was in Zikke community to commiserate with the people on the death of over fifty persons killed in the attacks.
In his remarks, the Paramount Ruler of Irigwe land, Ronku Aka, who is the Brangwe of Irigwe, urged government to come to the aid of the communities with the provision of social amenities in the area. The governor and the entourage also visited some of the families who lost their loved ones in the attack.
The victims have been buried, even as members of the community demanded action to stem the rising wave of insecurity in the state.
My sister got killed when she left our hiding place — Survivor
A survivor of the attack lamented the palpable fear that prompted his sister to run out of their hiding place and got killed when the attackers invaded their home.“The survivor, Eric Danlami, said they were asleep when the invaders came into the hamlet at about midnight, as the sounds of gunshots and the pandemonium woke them.“His words: “We had retired to bed in the night without any form of suspicion of any kind of problems.
At the time we heard the sporadic gunshots and movement of the people, we found a place to hide in one of the rooms, not knowing that the attackers had already entered our elder brother’s apartment at the boy’s quarters and slaughtered them, a family of five. His wife and first son survived and are currently in the hospital, but my sister, whom we were hiding together in a room, was afraid that they would enter the house.
As she left the place we were hiding to go to another hiding place, she was sighted. They shot at her and she didn’t survive it.”
IGP speaks of deployment of more personnel, resources
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who was also in the state yesterday, said the days of perpetrators of attacks on rural communities in Plateau State were numbered and assured the people of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring adequate security in the state. “He said: “We condemn these acts of violence and recognise their devastating impact, especially on local farmers. In response, we have deployed more security personnel and resources to the affected areas and are working closely with other security agencies.
“Intelligence gathering efforts have also been intensified to identify and bring the masterminds behind these attacks to justice. We will work tirelessly until these issues are resolved. I assure you that these criminal elements will soon be outnumbered. I appeal to the people of Plateau to remain calm and peaceful.”
PIDAN demands justice for victims
Meanwhile, the President of Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives, PIDAN, the umbrella body of the 56 autonomous communities in Plateau State, Amb. Nanpon Sheni, at a media briefing, demanded justice for the victims through accelerated arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.
“The peaceful indigenous tribes of Plateau State have been subjected to sustained acts of genocide by terrorist groups connected to global terrorist networks. They perpetrate heinous acts such as rape of women and girls, assaults on houses of worship and kidnapping.
“If these attacks remain unchecked, its ramifications for Nigeria’s stability, security and prosperity will be catastrophic. We call on the international community, the federal, and state governments and all stakeholders to acknowledge the gravity of the plight of Nigerians under this siege and take immediate action to push back terrorism. “We demand justice for the victims of terrorism and genocide through the accelerated prosecutions as promised by the President.
