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The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the Federal Government to stop the attacks by terror gangs on defenceless communities in Plateau state.
In a statement signed by ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, the forum said it was “ineffably saddened” by the March 28 attacks on defenceless communities in Bokkos and Mangu local government areas, which left scores dead, including children.
ACF said the attacks added to the “dismal statistics” of deaths, injuries and destruction of property caused by armed groups across northern Nigeria in recent years.
The statement reads: “ACF deeply mourns the dead and unequivocally condemns the attacks. The Forum particularly extends sympathy and condolence to the affected communities, the Government and people of Plateau State. The Forum identifies with the deep pains of families of the victims, prays to God to grant the deceased eternal rest, for surviving victims to be fortified with strength to bear the losses and for quick return to full health for all who suffered injuries.
“To the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), constitutionally responsible for the protection of lives and properties of citizens, ACF wishes to draw attention, for the umpteenth time, to the deterioration in the state of security in Arewa communities and elsewhere in Nigeria. ACF reiterates its long-standing stance that every new such experiences is one too many. Clearly, the people are in great pains, with their situation compounded by existential economic challenges.
“The killing spree on the Plateau must be stopped immediately, and peace must return to the State. In the future, ACF calls on the FGN to declare a state of security emergency on vulnerable and banditry-prone communities and to initiate effective early-warning and early-response strategies that incorporate the participation of community members.
“The FG should intensify efforts in actionable intelligence gathering, processing and deployment by all relevant security agencies so as to establish the immediate and remote causes of the latest skirmishes. Investigate, identify, arrest and prosecute perpetrators and enablers of the attacks; fully compensate families for the lives lost and extend relief to those injured;
“FGN and Plateau State Government will empower community leaders, elders, clergy, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to embark on community dialogue for conflict resolution, reconciliation, and cooperation. All must intensify conflict resolution efforts;(v) citizens should avail the security agencies with credible information on the activities of insurgents and criminals; and members of the National Assembly to do more to hold the FGN and the National Security Agencies to account and to demand concrete evidence of a firm resolve to exterminate the current terror on citizens.”
