The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Plateau State chapter has called for the immediate establishment of State Police to end the incessant attacks on Christian communities in Plateau State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Chairman of CAN in Plateau State Rev. Fr Polycarp Lubo stated this on Thursday while Speaking with Journalists after he visited Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Plateau Specialists Hospital, OLa Hospital all in Jos North local Government Area of the State to assess the situation of the victims of the reprisal attacks on Sunday in Jos who were mostly Christians travelling and University of Jos Students were killed.
He said the only immediate solution to incessant attacks, killings of innocent farmers and reprisal attacks is the establishment of state Police which gives powers and capacity to the State Governors to take prompt action to safeguard lives and properties.
He stressed that the incessant, unlawful killings and the general feeling of insecurity going on across the nation in the past four years are indication that the present security architecture in Nigeria is no more able to assure Nigerians of their security.
“The real tragedy across Plateau State is that we risk more attack and loss of lives unless we decentralise our policing system and allow every component state to establish their own state police to protect lives and properties of it citizens.”
He commended the swift intervention of the Federal Government through immediate action of the security agencies to save the lives of travellers and also call for similar action be taken for the protection of innocent communities of Irigwe nation in Bassa.
The CAN Chairman expressed sadness that the Irigwe Nation were helpless for hours without security intervention or Federal Government response where over 70 lives were killed as well as 2500 House burnt down.
“We expected the same Federal Government response and security intervention should have been taken when the people of Irigwe in Bassa Local government of the State were attack for 52 hours almost two to three days without immediate security intervention neither Federal government response, and over 70 persons killed as well as 2500 houses burnt down”.
He said there shouldn’t be any selective treatment of citizens when it comes to the issue of protection of lives and properties.
Lubo use the medium to condemned the ugly incidents and appeals to Plateau people to continue to walk towards the path of Peace.
“As government and security agencies continue to work towards lasting peace in Plateau State. Citizens also have a great role to play towards the path of peace and Unity among the various ethnic and religious groups on the Plateau.
One of the victims of the Sunday reprisal attacks is a 300 Level Medicine and Surgery Student Kwaghaondo Kingsley who was machete on his head currently receiving treatment said he narrowly escaped at the Bauchi Road.
