The Chairman of the Management Committee of Jos North Local Government, Shehu Bala Usman has said “enough is enough” on the killing of innocent citizens in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The Chairman gave the warning on the heels of Tuesday night’s attack in Yelwa zangam in Jos North.
The Chairman described the killing as barbaric, inhuman and unacceptable, adding that he regrets the attack that happens when normalcy was being restored across Jos North.
He emphasized that his administration will not go back on his commitment to apprehend any person or group of persons suspected to be connected to the attacks.
He caution the inhabitants of the area not to take laws into their hands as the Government and security agencies are doing everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice.
READ ALSO: COAS: Gen. Yahaya’s competence and zeal will to the end of insecurity in nigeira – Gov Obaseki
He appeal to the citizens to be calm and law abiding, security conscious and to help the various security agencies with information that could lead to the arrest of the attackers.
He called on religious and community leaders to engage their Youth and relavate stakeholders in their separate communities to avert any escalation of the attack to other areas.
As at the time of filing in this report, business activities in Jos were shot down, Banking activities shut down as banks staff hurriedly rushed to their houses in Jos neighborhoods.
It was earlier reported that, the Plateau State Governor. Simon Lalong says all those involved in perpetrating crisis in any part of the State, will be prosecuted.
Governor Lalong made the declaration in Abuja on Tuesday, while speaking to State House Correspondents, after he met President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Governor announced that the security situation in the State has greatly improved and very soon, the curfew imposed on troubled areas would be further relaxed.
He said: “What we are doing is to ensure that there is proper investigation and prosecution. You know, both the Soldiers and Police are controlled by the Presidency and right now they are diligently working in my state on a daily basis.
“That is why on the first day, I announced a 24-hour curfew but I kept on relaxing it. By the grace of even this week, the curfew would further be relaxed, so that people can carry out their normal activities. We are the only state that has a peace building agency set up by the State government and it is the only State that for now has established an interreligious council. These are all the efforts that we have done and within a short time, peace has returned to Plateau State.”
Governor Lalong said President Buhari promised him that support would be given to victims of the recent clashes in the State, currently displaced.
“I also made a request to the President about relieve materials and also still re-echoed the issue of resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) We have a lot if IDPs in my State, we have a lot on our hands already and when such happens, you expect the State to seek for support for relieve materials. We are doing our best but the President said he will talk to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, so that attention would be given to those who are displaced as a result of this crisis.
“For over six years now, we have been enjoying peace in Plateau State so, anybody that wants to take Plateau back to those old days of crisis, it is not only me as Governor but all Plateau people will resist that. They have said ‘we don’t want to go back to crisis again, we are enjoying peace and we want to continue to enjoy our peace, ” the Governor explained.
The Plateau State Governor used the occasion to appeal for calm and restraint, saying those calling for reprisals do not mean well for the State.
He said; “Again, I want to appeal to people because most of those who are outside the state calling for reprisal are not people from Plateau State. I am yet to see one cleric coming out to say I want reprisal. I have set up an interreligious committee, which comprises all top religious leaders in Plateau State, both Muslims and Christians and when things like this happen, they address it.
“So for people to call from outside the State for reprisal, I say no because they are crying more than the bereaved; leave us. We are handling our issue, we are doing reconciliation and consultations don’t call for reprisal attacks. If you want to do a reprisal, you are on your own. We have agreed with the religious leaders and all of them are doing their best, they are cooperating with the State and we are also doing our best.”
The Governor said Plateau State Government had since given support to survivors of the skirmish that happened in the State on Saturday August 14, when over 20 travelers form Ondo State were killed.
“When this happened, we had to go to Ondo but in so many places that is unusual, but we took all of them that we rescued and treated and went there with a powerful team led by the Deputy Governor of Plateau State with all religious leaders to Ondo to sympathize with the State. Their Governor also said they will also send a team to come and appreciate what we have done.
