AFTERMAT OF PLATEAU KILLINGS: PRESIDENT BUHARI PLEDGES TO PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY

President Muhammadu Buhari

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, June 26, in Jos Plateau State vowed to protect lives and properties of Nigerians. Buhari mad the pledge at a meeting with stakeholders on the current security situation in Plateau State of Nigeria. It would be recalled that scores of the people were killed in several communities across four local government areas of the state.

Vice President Prof. Yemi Osibanjo

Vice President Yemi Osibanjo was in the State on Monday where he assessed the situation and also interacted with stakeholders. Osibanjo’s visit was followed 24 hours later by the President  who came himself to console the people and interact with them. “I have contested  election to protect lives and properties and that I will do,"

Condemning the killings, President Buhari charged the leadership at every level to be awake to their responsibility of driving the peace process and then commiserated with the bereaved, urging the leaders to pass his message of condolence to those who lost their loved ones.

Plateau Governor Simon Lalong

Speaking during visit, Governor Simon Lalong thanked the president for coming personally 24 hours after the visit of the Vice President Osibanjo where far reaching decisions were reached after exhaustive discussions, attended by key leaders and stakeholders.

Internal Affairs Minister Dambazzau

Governor Lalong outlined steps taken by the Plateau State Government to  douse tensions with support from the federal government. Lalong thanked Buhari for granting the request for the establishment of Police Mobile Unit at Gashish, a flash point, and agreeing to compensate victims of the crises and then appealed to him to ensure that  those found to be behind the crises are prosecuted. “Mr President those who have been arrested and found guilty should be punished," he said. Lalong maintained that the parties involved in the killings were guilty as there was no justification for their actions.

The governor condemned acts of annexation of ancestral lands saying that his administration would not allow anybody to take another person’s land. He also condemned cattle rustling and other vices that constitute threat to peace and security.

IG of Police Ibrahim Idris

President Buhari was accompanied on the visit by the Governors of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, and that of Niger State, Sani Bello. Others were the ministers of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau and Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar, and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.