Plateau Our Heritage Revival Initiative fumes at Christmas eve killings, calls for urgent review of firearm laws

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From left, governors Bago of Niger, Engineer Sule of Nasarawa, Muftang of Plateau and Rev. Fr. Alia of Benue when governors of North Central states paid condolence visit to Plateau State over the Christmas eve killings

By Raymond Gukas, Jos

Pained by the recent unprovocked attacks and killings of innocent villagers in three local government areas of Plateau State, the Plateau Our Heritage Revival Initiative (POHri) has called for the prompt enforcement of the laws against small arms and fire arms across the country’s borders.

The call became necessary in view of the activities of terrorists across Nigeria who have taken advantage of government non challant attitudes towards the safety of its helpless citizens.

According to a statement signed by Alex Kwapnoe, the and Friday Bako Secretary, the POHri also called for a stringent measures against the recent arrests of suspects that are found to be involved in the dastardly massacres.

It said, “We condemn this unprovoked attacks, killings, destruction and looting of property in the strongest possible terms. Plateau Citizens are not known with such evil acts and we call on all well meaning Nigerians to lend their voices to condemn this heinous crime against humanity which is already threatening our national security in all ramifications.

“We wish to call on government at all levels to rise up to their primary responsibilities of protecting lives and property of the citizens as well as ensuring their welfare is given the expected attention. What the Citizens expect is to see the display of will power by enactment and enforcement of severe penalties by the National Assembly, State Assemblies and government at all levels towards curtailing insurgency and achieving a peaceful and prosperous Nation. It is therefore incumbent on government to ensure the citizens are protected as they go about their lawful endeavours.

“Security agencies must step up their operations and ensure that the Perpetrators of this wicked and inhuman acts on innocent citizens of Plateau State are neutralised, arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law as the case maybe to serve as deterrent to other terrorists and criminal elements”

While making a call for a better welfare of security agents for effectiveness, they “must be empowered to put superior and better efforts to make sure the terrorists are overpowered and Justice is served as it were” it stressed.

“We are aware of how a suspected killer of the Leader of Fulani in Panyam, Mangu LGA who was killed after leaving Bauchi State was arrested in faraway Lagos State few weeks after committing the alleged crime.
It is important that greater and better energy must be put in place to ensure that the killers of over 200 persons from the local government areas earlier mentioned are arrested and made to face the consequences of their barbaric acts”

The POHri then call on government at all levels, non-governmental organisations and well spirited individuals to expedite actions towards providing relief interventions to the displaced persons and medical aid to those injured in the attacks.
We call on the citizens not to deter but be more security conscious to repel potential threats.

“As law-abiding citizens of Plateau State and Nigeria, we are committed to working to achieve a more united, peaceful and prosperous State and Nation at large”, it concluded.