Plateau Attacks: Presidency Says Killings Deliberate, 20 Suspects Arrested, 33 Victims Rescued; As DIG Lemu Leads Operation

*Gov Lalong Imposes Curfew*

*Senator Shehu Sani reacts*

By Ayodele Oni  & Akinwale Kasali

In its reaction to the gruesome murder of 22 people (Muslims) who were on their way back to Ondo and Ekiti States after performing  religious rites  in Bauchi, the Presidency said it was  pre-meditated.

The reaction brimming with anger, religious and ethnic bias, and stripped of all diplomacy, was signed by Garba Shehu, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity. In it, the President extended its condolences to the families of the victims, condemned the inexplicable action in strong terms, and ordered the immediate arrest of every single person connected to the heinous crime.

The Statement reads in part:

“The Presidency condemns the attack earlier Saturday on travellers from a religious event in Bauchi, passing through Jos, the Plateau State Capital, and regrets the reported death of at least 22 persons with several others injured in that ambush on their travelling party.

“It is widely known that Plateau State has been one of the States affected by herder- farmer clashes, which have in a significant way, been curtailed following the intense peace-building efforts of the administration of Governor Simon Lalong.

“However, to be clear, this is not an agriculturist-on-pastoralist confrontation – but rather, a direct brazen and wickedly motivated attack on members of a community exercising their rights to travel freely and to follow the fate of their choosing.

“With the evident preparedness of their attackers, it is clear this was a well-conceived and pre-arranged assault on a known target, location, and religious persuasion of the travellers not an opportunists”

And in  order to restore calm and arrest the perpetrators of the evil act, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the immediate deployment of Police Intervention Team to Plateau State to carry out on-the-spot assessment and ensure enhanced, coordinated response to protect the community and boost public confidence in the affected area(s) of the State.

This was disclosed in a statement by Force Spokesperson,  CP Frank Mba on Sunday.

The deployment, he said, “follows the unfortunate attack on innocent citizens in Rukuba Community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State on Saturday 14th, August, 2021.
“The Police Intervention Team is led by DIG Sanusi N. Lemu, mni, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Finance and Administration who is also the coordinating DIG, North-Central geo-political zone. The Team comprises personnel of Police Tactical Units – the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Special Forces, amongst others deployed to protect the communities, prevent further attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“Also deployed are investigators and covert operatives from the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) and the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB). The operatives are expected to provide additional investigative, intelligence and forensic support to the Plateau State Police Command in the ongoing investigations and rescue operations.
The IGP, while condemning the incident, has called for calm and assured victims and relatives of the attack that the Police are working with the military, other security forces and the State Government to ensure that all perpetrators of the unfortunate incident are brought to book.
Meanwhile, the IGP noted that twenty (20) suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack while thirty-three (33) victims have been rescued.”

Gov Lalong Imposes Curfew

Meanwhile, to curtail the continued spread of violence, which claimed life of 22 travelers in Plateau state on Saturday, the state Governor, Mr Simon Lalong, has announced imposed 24 hours curfew in three local council areas.

A statement on Sunday named the affected local governments as Jos North, Jos South, and Bassa.

The Government action is coming just as identities of those that were killed on Saturday were being revealed.

It was gathered that the deceased persons were mainly Fulanis that had been resident in Akoko area of Ondo State for several years.

They were said to have hired three buses which conveyed them to Bauchi, where they had gone to attend an islamic festival and ran into an ambush of protesters in Jos while returning.

The Plateau State Government statement, signed by director of press to the Governor, Dr Makut Macham  stated that “Hours after announcing a dusk to dawn curfew in three Local Government Areas of Jos North, Jos South and Bassa, Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has directed the imposition of a 24-hour curfew in Jos North to contain further security threats.

“In the directive, the Governor said from 2pm of today, Sunday 15th August 2021, a 24-hour curfew will come into effect in Jos North Local Government Area.

“This is necessitated by security reports which indicate rising threats to the safety of lives and properties within the Local Government.

“The Governor therefore urges citizens to abide by the curfew and remain indoors to allow security agencies maintain law and order and deal with those bent on causing chaos.

“The Governor says the 24 hour curfew in Jos North Local Government will remain in force until further notice.

“Again, citizens are to note that the 24 hour curfew in Jos North will take effect from 2pm today 15th August 2021.”

Shehu Sani Condemns Attack

Reacting to the gruesome murder of 22 Muslims in the State who were on their way back from the annual “Zikr Prayers” held in Bauchi State, Senator Sani Shehu, former  Lawmaker, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, condemned the action of the perpetrators and urged the state and Federal Governments to take action immediately.

According to him: “The gruesome killings of twenty two Muslim faithfuls in Plateau State by Hoodlums while on their way back from the ‘Annual Zikr prayers’ in Bauchi state stands unreservedly condemned.

“It’s an unprovoked cold murder of innocent citizens.The Governor of the state and the FG must take an immediate action to ensure the culprits are apprehended and brought to book,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Muslim group has accused Christians of deliberately killing the Muslim faithfuls in cold blood. But the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has condemned the attack in very strong terms, and urged the FG to arrest anybody and everybody, anywhere, connected with the killings.

The 22 innocent victims of the unprovoked attack were buried in Jos on Sunday.