ACF Condemns Plateau Killings, Tasks Gov Lalong On Peace Initiative
BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen in some communities in Riyom, Jos South and Barkin Ladi local government areas of Plateau State.
It has therefore urged Governor Simon Lalong to urgently reactivate its peace building and community consultations initiative launched two years ago by the state government.
According to the ACF, reactivating the initiative will aid the process of finding lasting solutions to the incessant hostilities between herdsmen and Berom communities in the State.
The ACF also expressed its condolences to the affected communities, the government and people of Plateau State as well as the families affected over the unfortunate occurrence.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, the Forum also challenged security agencies on being proactive in their operations to avert such incidences in future.
The statement said the “Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is deeply touched by the recent unwarranted and wanton destruction of innocent lives and property by some armed bandits in some communities in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
“The heinous acts by the gunmen or bandits were callous and inhuman, considering the huge number of casualties in terms of lives lost and settlements affected.
“Unfortunately, travelers plying the roads within the local government areas affected were also victims of the attacks.”
The Forum further stated that; “Killing of innocent people for whatever reasons cannot in any way address the perceived concerns or grievances of the perpetrators of these crimes.
“ACF once more appeals to all aggrieved persons to always channel their grievances through due process of law rather than taking the law into their hands.
“This is because both the attacks and reprisals are targeted at innocent people who know nothing about the feuds.
“ACF condemns the spate of killings of innocent people by armed bandits and gunmen not only in Plateau State but also the ones in some other northern states.”
In urging the Security Agencies to always be proactive in their operations, the ACF said; “The issue of intelligence gathering and sharing should be a continuous and sustained effort by both the community and the security agencies to ensure peaceful coexistence within the communities, considering the need for peaceful coexistence is sine qua non for any meaningful socioeconomic development to take place.
“ACF equally calls upon the Plateau State government to reactivate its “peace building and community consultations initiative” launched two years ago by Governor Simon Lalong, which was aimed at finding a lasting solution to the incessant hostilities between herdsmen and Birom communities in Plateau state”
