JOS VIOLENCE AND KILLINGS: CONVERT FILLIN SUKUWA TO A MOBILE POLICE BARRACKS. NUJ, NLC, OTHERS TELL FG, PLATEAU STATE GOVT

By: Valentine Adese (JP),

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) among other pressure groups in Nigeria have urged the Federal government of Nigeria and the Plateau State Government to put all in place to secure the University of Jos, before its resumption.

You would recall that the University had in the hit of the violence and killings in Jos recently, suspended its Examinations and after a critical review of the situation in and around the campus, with the reported killing of its students, the Management of the Institution further suspended all other activities in the campus and directed students to leave.

This had prompted, Local, State, the Federal Government, including political actors to embark on evacuating the students from the University.

This ugly development though been addressed, the situation never received knocks from the NLC, the NUJ and a host of other pressure groups in the country who are urging the Governments to provide adequate security for the students and the campus before their resumption.

In a Press Statement of the NUJ signed by the Plateau State Council’s Chairman and Secretary, Comr. Paul Jatau   and Comr. Peter Amine, respectively, the Council is calling on the Federal and State Governments to convert the Race Course field, also known as  Fillin Sukuwa on Bauchi Ring  Road in Jos North Local Government Area (LGA) to a Mobile Police Barracks to protect staff and students on the two campuses of the University.

The Union also wants Government to, “As a matter of urgency, regulate the activities of tricycle operators in Jos and reduce the number of tricycles to 500 with specific registration numbers and designated routes of operation”.

The NUJ Plateau State Council, also advised that, modalities should be made to compel those, who encroached on the University of Jos land be compelled to vacate and that, Operation Rainbow should build and equip a Security Outpost close to the university like the one being operated at Dutse Uku, in Jos North Local Government.

The NUJ calls on students and staff of the University to be security conscious and provide useful security information to security agencies in the state for prompt action.

On its part, the NLC in its Press Statement signed by, Comr. Eugene Manji as Chairman and Comr. Dr. Badung Dalyop as Acting Secretary respectively, joine individuals and groups to express its worry over the recent spate of killings in Bassa, Jos-North, Jos-South and Riyom Local Government Areas of the state where several lives have been cut short.

Labour condemned the continuous attacks and killing of innocent persons in communities and schools, as well as, other locations in the aforementioned areas.

Labour noted with grave concern the constant targeting and attack of students and staff of University of Jos, by miscreants whenever there is breach of public peace in some parts of the state.

According to Labour, “The sad and unwarranted situation has led to the abrupt suspension of second semester examination and all academic programmes indefinitely by the University management to save lives.

“NLC also condemns in strong terms the recent attack of seven (7) staff of Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTVC) in Dadin Kowa area, one of the flashpoints after closing from duty.

“NLC however, calls on Federal and Plateau State governments to as a matter of urgency, bring to an end the series of killings within the various communities in Plateau State

“Labour calls on government to establish a permanent security outfit close to the University to secure the community.

“Security agencies should beef up security around University Jos and focus attention on all flashpoints in the state as well as develop more proactive measures to promptly tackle the challenges.

Citizens should be vigilant and continue to report suspicious movements to relevant agencies of government.

 READ THE SPEECH OF 17^TH AUGUST, 2021, OF GOV. LALONG AFTER THE SECURITY MEETING IN PLATEAU, DURING THE SAD DEVELOPMENT BELOW:

 

TEXT OF SPEECH BY H.E. RT. HON. (DR) SIMON BAKO LALONG, EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE AT THE PEACE AND SECURITY EMERGENCY STAKEHOLDERS MEETING HELD AT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, LITTLE RAYFIELD, JOS ON 17TH AUGUST 2021.

Protocols:

1. It is with a deep heart that I address you today over the security situation in Plateau State. Despite the huge investments we have made in peace building and crime fighting, we are again being confronted with the activities of criminals who are bent on reversing the gains made in the last six years.
2. In the recent weeks and months, we have witnessed the unfortunate threats to the peace and security of the State by criminal elements that have been largely run out of business by the combined efforts of the Government and law abiding citizens, as well as collaboration of stakeholders outside the State.
3. We have witnessed isolated cases of attacks on some communities such as Dong in Jos North; Kwi, Byei, Wereng and Jol in Riyom LGA; Miango, Kangbro, Ri-geh; Kikoba, Kigam, Dundu, kishisho, Angwan Magaji, Nkienwhie, Zanwra, Nche-Tahu, Gene, Rikwe-Rishe, Kpatenvie, Ri-Kusu, Nchu-Nzhwa, Ri-Doro, and Kpara all in Bassa LGA; as well as Kuru in Jos South Local Government.
4. There were also attacks in Chol, Vwang District as well as Kwanan Fulani, Chaha in Jos South Local Government; Maiyanga, La’ake, Mai Farin Mota, Dogon Gaba, Kafi Gana and Kwal villages in Bassa LGA; Mararaban Foron, Nafan in Barkin Ladi LGA; Ganawuri, Byei and Mahanga in Riyom LGA among others.
5. In most of these attacks, farmers as well as herders were either killed or cattle and farm crops destroyed. Houses were also burnt down and people rendered homeless. The human loses due to the destruction is very worrisome as it continues to fuel the endless circle of attacks and counter attacks.
6. In all the incidences, I directed the security agencies to go all out to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Government also mandated both the Peace Building Agency and our State Interreligious Council to step in and seek to unravel the remote causes of the attacks with a view to charting the cause of peace and reconciliation.
7. While these efforts were ongoing and the security agencies continued with the process of hunting down those behind the unfortunate attacks, we were again taken aback by another unfortunate breach of peace along Rukuba road on Saturday 14th August 2021 where a convoy of five buses with passengers returning from a religious festival in Bauchi State heading to Ondo State were attacked.
8. Many of them were killed and others were injured while some were rescued. This led to tension that degenerated to further retaliatory killings on Sunday which necessitated the imposition of 24-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area in addition to the dusk to dawn curfew in Bassa and Jos South LGAs.
9. The security agencies have continued to dominate the areas and look for the perpetrators of these crimes to bring them to justice.

While this is going on, the Government has also made efforts to bring succor to the victims. I am assuring the citizens that all the perpetrators still at large or their sponsors will surely be fished out and made to face the law.

10. My dear Elders, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we have gone through this circle of violence in the past and it has done nobody any good. This is the time for us to unite and confront the common enemy to peace and peaceful coexistence.

The vision of my administration is to ensure that people live together irrespective of their backgrounds. Justice and fairness is what can guarantee peace.

11. We must work hard to resist the ploy by the enemies of our State to exploit religious and ethnic emotions to pitch people against one another. We must outgrow this old trick that has retarded the growth of our State and given us a negative image nationally and internationally.
12. Our focus should rather be on promoting our diversity, rich culture and natural endowments and God-given potentials that are an attraction to many investors. Without peace, nobody will invest in our State, which explains why we have spent so much to build peace and institutionalize its consolidation through the Peace Building Agency and the Plateau State Inter-Religious Council.
13. We have equally made several efforts in building the capacity of the security agencies including the Operation Rainbow towards ensuring that they respond to threats on time and prevent crimes. We recently bought and distributed 50 patrol vehicles and 200 security motorcycles.
14. I have therefore called you here today to hear your views and receive your submissions as to what we can collectively do to overcome the current situation and also bring to an end this unfortunate cycle of violence particularly in Jos North, Bassa, Riyom, Jos South and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas. We cannot afford to fail the upcoming generation by refusing to do the needful.
15. Before I sit down and allow you bring forth your inputs, I wish to draw our attention to the misuse of the social media by some persons who take joy in sharing fake and unsubstantiated videos and messages which further fuel passions leading to unrest. I have directed the security agencies to go after such persons and ensure they face the law for incitement and hate speech.
16. Once more I welcome you to this stakeholders meeting and thank you for coming.
17. God bless Plateau State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG

Executive Governor, Plateau State,

17th August 2021.