The massacre of more than seventy individuals in Barkin Ladi and Bokkos local government areas of Plateau State, namely in the Gashish and Ropp districts, has been denounced by the House of Representatives Minority Caucus.
The time has arrived, according to Kingsley Chinda, the Minority Leader, to put an end to the killings in the State.
He called on the armed forces and other security services to keep going after the problem until they were certain of winning.
He also urged the security committees of the National Assembly to launch a thorough inquiry into the ongoing killings and suggest legislative remedies to put an end to them in a statement he signed.
The statement says as follows: “National and international concerns about the security of people in Nigeria, particularly the North Central region of Nigeria and murders that have gone unchecked on the Plateau, have been raised by the invasion of five communities and the killing of over seventy people by unknown gunmen on Christmas eve in Gashish and Ropp Districts of Barkin Ladi and Bokkos local government areas of Plateau State.
“These killings demonstrate how grievances between communities may be transformed into organized violence by anonymous groups and individuals who use violent means to address perceived differences. These killings have become the recurring results of inter-communal violence in Plateau State.
Many believed that the violent expressions of differences had reached their peak when Jos was transformed into an infernal theater and killing field in 2001, killing one thousand people. Sadly, more attacks occurred in Jos, Wase, Langtang North, Langtang South, Shendam, Mikang, Qua’an Pan, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom, resulting in numerous fatalities and property destruction.
What is more concerning is that security services’ warnings of approaching attacks go unanswered, and there appears to be a political leadership unwilling to apprehend offenders and put an end to the carnage in Plateau State. The act of collaboration and conspiracy in the bloodletting is evident, if witness statements are to be believed.
“The killings on the Plateau have to end right away; they have continued for far too long!
We offer our sympathies to the Plateau State government and people for the killings.
“We urge on and encourage our military and other security agencies to devote more and be persistent in fighting the issue until victory is achieved for everyone, even if we appreciate their efforts and sacrifices thus far.
In addition, we implore NASS Security Committees to use Sections 4, 88, and 89 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, as a stronghold in order to launch a thorough inquiry into the ongoing killings and suggest legislative measures to put an end to them.