Mahdi Garba, a resident of
Plateau state, says the incident that led to the attacks on some communities in
the state occurred a week ago.
Suspected herdsmen attacked three
local government areas of the state on Saturday night. While residents said
over 1oo lives were lost, the police confirmed 86 casualties.
According to Garba, the attacks
were triggered by a a face-off between some suspected Fulani and Berom people
of the state.
He said after the
misunderstanding, aggrieved Fulani invaded the burial of one Baba Jakawa, “a
devout Christian who died at 80”.
Garba said many people were
killed at the burial.
He accused the state government
and security operatives of failing to do enough to curtail the crisis.
“The gravity of the mayhem is
beyond what social media commentators are saying,” Garba revealed.
“The crisis started a about a
week ago when some men with Fulani identity had a face-off with Beroms (the
majority ethnic group in Barikin Ladi local government of Plateau state).
“As usual, what is happening now
is a reprisal attack. What befuddles me about this crisis is the timing of the
attack and the victims.
“To give this crisis an
ethno-religious undertone, the reprisal took place during a burial of one Baba
Jakawa, a devout Christian who died at 80.
“In a state like Plateau state
where a communal clash can evolve into a religious crisis, security operatives
should have responded swiftly but regrettably the narrative was different.
“There was no effort by the
government to curtail the crisis that started from Gashish, Gindin Akwati to
Heipang, Kuzen, Nyarr and now, even Bukuru.”
Garba accused Simon Lalong, the
governor, and his deputy of falling below expectation.
“There is no gainsaying that the
the state Governor has failed in fulfilling his primary responsibility of
protecting the lives and properties of Plateau people,” he said.
“If there is a serious government
in place, no miscreant will block the Jos-Abuja highway in the name of
vengeance on innocent travellers. But, when the government fails to protect the
people, the people take the responsibility. Both actions remain condemned.
“The current government must take
the bull by the horn and bring the actors to book no matter whose ox is gored,
if they are after averting similar occurrence in the future.
“Religious and political leaders
in Plateau state should use their pulpits for good and stop fanning the flames
of these crises through provocative speeches.”
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