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President Bola Tinubu has condemned recent attacks by gunmen on communities in Plateau and Kaduna states.
On Saturday, suspected bandits attacked a wedding celebration in Kahir village, Kagarko LGA of Kaduna state, killing 13 people and abducting 28 residents.
On Sunday, about 28 persons were killed after gunmen opened fire on a community in Angwan Rukuba district of Jos, Plateau, injuring several others.
In a statement on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Tinubu described the attacks as “barbaric and cowardly”.
The president said the killings in Jos and the attack on wedding guests in Kaduna were an affront to Nigeria’s values, adding that the perpetrators would not go unpunished.
“Anyone who will sneak under the cover of the night and kill defenceless citizens as done in Jos and Kahir village is a heartless coward,” the statement reads.
“By attacking soft targets in Jos, their objective is not only to cause harm but also trigger a spiral of reprisal attacks and further bloodletting.”
Tinubu said he has directed security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend persons responsible for the attacks, as well as individuals spreading misinformation that could inflame tensions.
He also cautioned sections of the media against insinuating that the attacks were religiously motivated.
The president reaffirmed that security agencies are addressing the situation and noted the need for public cooperation in maintaining peace and protecting lives and property.
He urged communities to comply with evacuation and relocation directives issued by authorities and welcomed the safe return of two victims abducted in Kaduna.
“I urge our security agencies to be more proactive in preventing these attacks by acting on early warning intelligence. All the remaining abductees from Kahir village must be rescued immediately,” the president said.
Tinubu commended Caleb Mutfwang, governor of Plateau; and Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna; for their responses to the incidents.
He also sympathised with families of the victims and prayed for the recovery of the injured, adding that the federal government is acquiring more sophisticated equipment to enable security agencies track and tackle criminal elements in real time.
