Gov Lalong Condemns Attack on Commuters in Jos North, Talks Tough

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau, has condemned Saturday’s attacks on commuters around Rukuba Road in Jos North Local Government Area, where some persons were reportedly killed.

The governor condemned the attacks in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs,  Dr Makut Macham in Jos.

He said the attacks on innocent citizens no matter their backgrounds, would never be tolerated in Plateau, adding that  sponsors of such attacks would be dealt with to serve as deterrent to others.

It would be recalled that earlier on Saturday, Thisday reports that corpses numbering at least 18 who were victims of the clash that erupted between youths and suspected Fulani men, were conveyed in two Hilux vans from the crisis spot to Plateau Specialist Hospital mortuary.

According to the report, in the past two days Irigwe youths had repeatedly announced that they were conveying the corpses of their slain members for burial in Bass on Saturday. They had set out in a convoy for the burial on Saturday morning when violence broke out along the way at Rukuba road.

As they went with the corpses, they met some vans conveying some Fulani along their way. The Fulani reportedly claimed they were commuters from Bauchi but the angry youths challenged them seeing that Rukuna road does not connect Bauchi highway. They suspected that they may have come to attack them at the burial ground.

The youths then allegedly pounced on the Fulani, injured some and killed others before security agents could reach the sport. The violence then began to escalate before the security agents arrested it.

Gov Lalong  warned those bent on fomenting trouble in Plateau to desist as  government would not allow any form of lawlessness to disrupt the peace of the state.

The governor said that security agencies have been drafted to restore calm in the area and also directed to identify and arrest the perpetrators.

He commended security agencies for their swift response, leading to the arrest of some suspects and the restoration of calm to the area.

He assured all law abiding citizens of their safety as security had been beefed up around the area as well as the entire metropolis to forestall further breach of the peace.

Lalong  commiserated with the families of those affected while calling for calm.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons and behaviour within their domains to law enforcement agencies for appropriate action.

The governor also directed the Secretary to the Government of the State, Prof. Danladi Abok-Atu, to visit the areas to assess the situation and ensure that those injured received adequate medical attention.

Meanwhile, spokesperson of the Police Command in the state, ASP Ubah Ogaba, also confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Ogaba said that security personnel have restored calm in the area, adding that resident were already  going about their lawful businesses.

He, however, said that details of the skirmishes would be made available later.