Three suspects arrested in connection with weekend’s killings in 11 villages in Plateau have been paraded by the military.
Two of the suspects are herdsmen and one Berom– one of the minority ethnic groups in Plateau State.
They were arrested by the special military task force, “Operation Save Haven.
The suspects in Jos alongside 14 others. The three men were said to have been captured at Gashish district in the Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau.
Umar Adams, spokesman of the STF, told reporters that the suspects were arrested, clutching sophisticated riffles.
Adams said the suspects were arrested in the course of the attacks.
“We all know that some days back, some villages in Barkin Ladi were attacked and these three suspects were arrested in connection with that,” he said.
“As our men were repelling the attacks in those areas we arrested these suspects with four riffles, three locally made guns and one AK47.
“The other 14 people were arrested in connection with civil unrest recently experienced in the state.”
Adams said the suspects were still being investigated and that more arrests would be made in the course of time.
Over 100 people were reportedly killed in Plateau by suspected herdsmen at the weekend and property worth millions of naira destroyed in the attacks.
…CAN declares sit-at-home protest
The Plateau northern zone chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked its members to sit at home for two days in protest of the continuous killings by herdsmen in the state.
The directive was contained in a statement issued by CAN Chairman in the zone, Isa Nenman.
The sit-at-home order is to be observed on Wednesday and Thursday and the Chairman asked
Christians not go to work or the market.
“CAN Plateau northern zone has issued directives to all Christians to sit down at home today and tomorrow. No work, no farm, no market and mourn over the continuous killing,” the statement read.
“Turn out tomorrow for the massive protest to be led by all our mothers supported by the Youths. Meeting point old airport roundabout 27th June, 2018 9am.”
…what we discussed with Buhari – Saraki
The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has given insights into what he discussed with President Muhammadu Buhari over the violence in Plateau State alongside the Speaker, House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara.
The two principal officers of the National Assembly met with Buhari yesterday at his official residence before the president went to attend the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Speaking with journalists after they emerged from the meeting, Saraki said they commiserated with the president and then got a briefing from him.
“Part of the briefing is that he explained how steps are being taken to forestall re-occurrence and restore sanity because this is a great concern to him and to us also,” Saraki said.
The Senate President also said at the meeting, the measures the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and security agencies would take towards the crisis was discussed.
The violence between herdsmen and locals in Plateau State has led to the death of about 100 persons in the past week with majority of them killed on Saturday by suspected herdsmen.
Saraki said nobody in the government was happy with the development adding that “we will all come together to ensure that we restore sanity”.
Saraki appealed to all involved to live together in peace and harmony.
He assured that those in government “will continue to do our best to see that this kind of thing does not happen again”.
He also commiserated with all families affected by the violence adding that the leadership of the Assembly would also go to Plateau State on a condolence visit.
Buhari and his vice, Yemi Osinbajo, were in Plateau State on Monday and Tuesday on condolence visits.
Also speaking, Dogara said Buhari briefed them on “what he saw firsthand when he visited Plateau yesterday and measures he was putting in place to ensure that we do not have a relapse or a recurrence”.
…we’ll support Gov Lanlong to stop genocide – Senate President
The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, yesterday, assured the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong of the support of the National Assembly in order to curb killings in the state.
Saraki stated this when he paid a condolence visit on Plateau Governor in Jos to sympathise with government and people of the state over the killings of scores of people.
The Senate President said it was obvious that something was wrong with the security situation in the country, adding that the situation must be addressed.
“Something is wrong unless we want to deceive ourselves. It might not have started today but let us sit down at a table and find a solution to it.
“Definitely something is not working right and it is upon us and we must collaborate to correct it,” Saraki said.
The Senate President however, advised Lalong to be fair and just in governing the people saying that God would be on his side to guide him if he does what is right.
Saraki said the National Assembly would through its oversight function ensure that whatever was required to stem the killings was done.
Responding, Lalong said the nation’s security architecture needed restructuring for it to be more proactive.
“I agreed with you that we need new security architecture because if we allow people to be killed before we look for the reasons that they were killed, it is unfortunate.
“It is better that they must be proactive, know what is coming and take action before it happens,” he said.
The governor added that he was taken aback at what happened within a very short time.
According to him, before he left for the All Progressives Congress (APC) convention, he had interacted with security chiefs and community leaders and there was no tension or cause to worry.
He said that shortly after they began to announce results, he was informed that his state was on fire and he immediately left the convention and ran back home.
“We are doing our best to ensure that the crisis doesn’t spread to other parts of state,” he assured.
The governor thanked the Senate President for visiting the state soon after similar visits by the Vice President and President.
He said that Saraki’s visit clearly showed his concern for Nigeria and its people.
… Myetti Allah denies linking killings to reprisal attack
Chairman of North Central zone of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Danladi Ciroma, has denied linking the killings in Plateau state to reprisal attacks.
Ciroma said the reporter he spoke with on the issue misquoted him, denying issuing a statement.
He noted that the biggest issue they have on ground is cattle rustling.
“I did not issue a statement. No, we talked on phone. Sincerely speaking, what that boy wrote was not what I told him. We did not speak on reprisal attacks.
“What is happening in Plateau from 2001 is not good. I am a peace loving person. I am sure that if Birom people read what they wrote about me, they won’t believe it. They don’t know me with that kind of habit. Since the coming of this government, the governor set up several committees on peace and if anything happens, anywhere he is, he will return home.
“The security men on ground have been doing their best but Fulani and farmers must find a way of living peacefully because no one will separate them. Innocent lives are been killed.
“The biggest issue we have on ground is cattle rustling. In Fan district, over 300 cattle have been rustled. It has become a no go area and security agencies know about it. Among the Fulani and the Birom youths, there are enemies of peace. The herders and farmers have been fighting, which is not good. Our concern is peace.”
…confusion as IG shuttles 2 CPs in 24hrs
There seemed to be confusion in Plateau State following the reinstatement of Undie Adie, the Commissioner of Police who was announced removed on Tuesday, has been reinstated barely 24 hours later.
Adie, the Plateau Police Commissioner since September 2017, was replaced by Bala Ciroma in a directive issued by the Inspector-General, Ibrahim Idris on Tuesday.
Adie confirmed his redeployment to online medium, Premium Times on Tuesday and the police spokesperson in the state subsequently issued a statement confirming the development.
The replacement was initially deemed a response to the weekend killings of over 100 people in the state, a development that has sparked renewed anger across the country.
He told newsmen he was directed to immediately hand over to Ciroma and report at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
But yesterday morning, amidst reports that he was sacked and not replaced as he claimed, Adie disclosed that he had been asked to remain in Plateau as the commissioner, and that Ciroma has handed over the office back to him, Tuesday night.
“My IG graciously rescinded the decision by himself.
“I was asked to take over back and continue the work here,” Adie stated in a telephone conversation.
The police commissioner said security situation in the state was under control and that the police have received supports to aide their efforts.
“The situation is under control,” the police chief said. We have more personnel deployed and monitoring is going on with more material, too.”
A statement by the Plateau State Police Command yesterday said, “The Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris has reversed the earlier deployment of CP Undie Adie to force headquarters, Abuja back to Plateau State Command, Jos,” the statement signed by spokesperson Terna Tyopev.
Tyopev said Ciroma who succeeded Adie, had been redeployed back to the force headquarters.
“Commissioner of police CP Bala Ciroma has since handed over and returned the the force headquarters Abuja.”
According to the press release the reversal of the deployment was due to Adie’s knowledge about Plateau State.
“Moreover, it is the reasoning of the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris that CP Undie Adie understands the terrain better, as such he is to remain and steer the ship off the tides,” the statement said.
He denied the earlier deployment was punitive.
Spokesperson for the Force headquarters, Jimoh Moshood, did not immediately return requests for comments about the confusion around the officer that would lead in the aftermath of the killings in Plateau.
Already, Joshak Habila, the deputy inspector-general of police in charge of operations, has been asked to relocate to the state as part of the initial police response to the killings, which occurred between June 22 and 24.
Habila was asked to relocate to Benue State following deadly attacks linked to herdsmen in January. It was unclear when he left the state and returned to Force headquarters, where his office is domiciled.
On Monday, Habila relocated to Plateau from Abuja, where he had been for several weeks before the directive, according to a source at the Force headquarters.
… Dogara asks Buhari to overhaul security architecture
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to reorganise the country’s security.
The National Assembly leaders met with the President at Aso Rock earlier yesterday with Dogara claiming they were the ones who requested audience with Buhari over the nationwide killings.
In a statement he issued after the meeting, Dogara said Buhari briefed them on the steps the government is taking to address the situation.
“Today, I and President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, met with President Muhammadu Buhari over the #Plateau violence,” he said.
“We requested for the meeting in order to hear from the president the steps and measures the executive is taken to end the orgy of killings and violence not only on the Plateau but in other parts of the country.
“We also used the opportunity to advise the President on other measures and actions that will help bring lasting peace in our country in accordance with the resolutions passed at the joint emergency closed-door session of the national assembly held some weeks ago.
“We call on all relevant government agencies to quickly provide emergency relief services to people in the affected areas.
“The house of representatives and indeed the national assembly will continue to work towards providing all necessary legislative backing to the security agencies more especially funding needed to reform and equip our armed forces to tackle the prevailing security challenges confronting us as a nation.
“I am also restating my earlier call for a total reform and overhaul of our internal security architecture which has failed to address the spate of insecurity in the land.”
