PLATEAU KILLINGS: Saraki, PDP, Miyetti Allah react to Plateau killings, also SEE Twitter reactions

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a Senator, Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central), have reacted to the killings that took place in Plateau State over the weekend.

While Bukola Saraki described the incident as depressing and advised President Muhammadu Buhari to direct his security chiefs to immediately produce quick response measures aimed at tackling the spate of killings in the country, the PDP said President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure to address the security challenges facing the nation is reponsible for the latest bloodbath.

The police in Plateau State confirmed 86 people dead in the violence that erupted on Saturday in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

The violence, allegedly by armed herdsmen, almost led to reprisal attacks by in Jos, the state capital, on Sunday, leading the government to declare a curfew.

A resident of the Barkin Ladi had earlier told PREMIUM TIMES that 120 people were killed by the attackers.

In a statement on Sunday evening, the police also confirmed that six persons were injured, with 50 houses razed.

Mr Saraki, who described the incident as depressing, advised President Muhammadu Buhari to direct his security chiefs to immediately produce quick response measures aimed at tackling the spate of killings in the country.

In a statement, he said it is important for Nigerians to start having the assurances that the government is decisively responding to the current threat to lives and properties.

“The problem of Boko Haram in the North-east is well known to everybody but this killing by unknown band of assailants in Benue, Taraba, Plateau and Kaduna States is now giving another dimension to the crisis. Coming at the time we are getting ready for elections, we need to respond fast.

“If the plan is to develop some long term measures, we also request that the President should mandate the security chiefs to put forward an immediate short term and quick response measure which will restore confidence in the system and demonstrate to the criminals behind this killings the capacity of government to tackle the issue,” he said.

The opposition PDP in its statement decried the killings.

The PDP said President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure to address the security challenges facing the nation is reponsible for the latest bloodbath.

“It is most disheartening that compatriots are being killed daily because those saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding lives, care less about the wellbeing and safety of the people, as they focus only on their ill-fated 2019 re-election bid,” it said.

The party urged Nigerians to note that ”since the escalation of killings and bloodletting in various parts of the country, particularly in Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Adamawa, Yobe, Borno, Zamfara, Kaduna and other states, no concrete steps have been taken by the APC administration to strengthen and fortify the security architecture in the troubled areas”.

“We now find ourselves in a situation where government attaches no value to the lives of Nigerians so much so that top security officials flout presidential orders and even abandon their security duties in troubled areas while the President, as the commander-in-chief, takes no strong steps to reorder his parade.

“The PDP particularly agrees with Nigerians that if the over 7,000 security personnel, police surveillance helicopters and Armoured Personnel Carriers were not withdrawn from their primary security duties and drafted to be part of the APC national convention, the marauders would not have had a field day in this Plateau attack.”

Sani Reacts

Meanwhile, Mr Sani condemned the attacks describing it as tragic and most unfortunate.

He criticised his own party, the APC for paying more attention to the ”power and politics of the 2019 elections”.

“While the Governors dance and sing at Eagle Square,the lives of the governed are wasted and the blood of the governed was soaking the territory they administer.

“Enough blood has been spilled in Nigeria to touch the conscience of people in power, if at all humanity matters. In Nigeria today life of the poor is cheaper than peanuts and gala (sausage).We have become a nation in perpetual mourning and funeral service,” he said.

Mr Sani said until the ruling political elite raise the value of the life of the underprivileged to be equal to that of the powerful and the privileged, ”the systemic wastage of the lives of the poor will remain unabated”.

“The nation has lost its sense of outrage and we are tragically spreading red carpets and beating the drums of praises to leaders who woefully failed in their responsibilities,” he added.

He also extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.

Why herdsmen killed over 86 people in Plateau – Miyetti Allah

Danladi Ciroma, the Chairman, North Central zone of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has reacted to the recent attacks on Plateau villages by suspected herdsmen where over 86 persons were hacked to death.

DAILY POST reports that Plateau Police Command on Sunday confirmed the killing of 86 persons in the attacks on Razat, Ruku, Nyarr, Kura and Gana-Ropp villages of Gashish District in Barkin Ladi Local Government.

Ciroma in a statement claimed that the attack was in retaliation of the killing of over 300 cows in the last few weeks by the villagers.

He said despite the efforts of the state government, some criminal elements hiding among their people were still frustrating the peace efforts.

“These attacks are retaliatory. As much as I don’t support the killing of human being, the truth must be told that those who carried out the attacks must be on revenge mission.

“There have been recent reports of cow rustling and destruction of farms between Berom farmers and Fulani herdsmen. The people carrying out these criminal activities are well known to the communities but the communities are hiding them.

“Fulani herdsmen have lost about 300 cows in the last few weeks – 94 cows were rustled by armed Berom youths in Fan village, another 36 cows were killed by Berom youths. In addition to that, 174 cattle were rustled and the criminals disappeared with them to Mangu.

“Since these cows were not found, no one should expect peace in the areas. Even soldiers that went after the criminals to recover the rustled cows were shot by the armed rustlers and eventually escaped with all the cows.

“The government of Governor Lalong has done a lot to restore peace, but the criminal elements hiding among their people are the ones frustrating these peace efforts.

“Though the security agencies have tried, they need to do more by being fair to all parties; they should not neglect any report presented by Fulani of Berom because such report can lead to attacks and deaths if not properly handled.

“Criminals thrive a lot in Berom communities, but when the Fulani, who are always victims of their crime, react with attacks, they blame the government.

“These communities have leaders, why hide the criminals? They should fish out the criminals and hand them over to security agencies to avoid death of innocent ones.

“As it is today, the Berom man cannot go to farm, the Fulani cannot breed his cows in Berom Land. This can be stopped if the security agencies do more than what they are currently doing. The attacks will stop as soon as the security agencies stop Berom youths from stealing Fulani cows” he added.

TWITTER REACTIONS

Nasser Al-Saadi
Twitter › Nass
Just had the chance to check the news of #Nigeria on @AJEnglish after seeing couple of tweets and I’m really sorry to hear and read about what is happening in #Plateau. No matter what excuse they have, killing people does not justify. Terrorism has no religion
2 hours ago

Al Jazeera News
Twitter › AJENews
Media posted by Al Jazeera News
Nigerian herdsmen kill 86 people in communal violence in central Plateau State, local media report. aje.io/y7763
12 hours ago

Man United in Pidgin
Twitter › ManUtdInPidgin
Media posted by Man United in Pidgin
We dey send prayers to the Friends and Families of the people wey dey affected by the Fulani Herdsmen massacre in Plateau, Jos today🙏🏿 We hear say dem kill over 200 people. Our hearts dey bleed for Nigeria 🇳🇬 #PrayForNigeria #NoToViolence
1 day ago

Elvis Tunde ⚓
Twitter › Tunnyking
Media posted by Elvis Tunde ⚓
Media posted by Elvis Tunde ⚓
Just imagine, Miyetti Allah said over 200 people lost their lives in the #PlateauKillings as a revenge to 300 cows that were allegedly rustled. Are these people humans at all??
34 minutes ago

Muhammadu Buhari
Twitter › MBuhari
The grievous loss of lives & property arising from the killings in Plateau today is painful and regrettable. My deepest condolences to the affected communities. We will not rest until all murderers and criminal elements and their sponsors are incapacitated and brought to justice.
19 hours ago

Bara space solutions
Twitter › bara_spacesolns
Miyeti Allah has acknowledged that the Plateau killings was revenge for the killing/theft of 300 cows. So all this talk about politicians being responsible should Pl stop.
2 minutes ago

Daily Post Nigeria
Twitter › DailyPostNGR
Media posted by Daily Post Nigeria
Plateau massacre: Fani- Kayode chides Miyeti Allah, warns of more killings dailypost.ng/2018/06…
5 minutes ago

Senator Dino Melaye
Twitter › dino_melaye
1)“I am deeply saddened by the the killings around the country. It is bothersome to my spirit that 100s of people were murdered in cold blood in Plateau State over the weekend. Adding to the already recorded 1000s that have died around the country from the inhumane acts of