- Tasks them on harmony and peaceful co-existence
- Visits victims of Bokkos, Barkin LGAs
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT – Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to support persons and communities affected by the recent violent attacks by bandits in Bokkos and Barkin Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
He spoke on Thursday during a condolence visit to victims attacked by unknown gunmen in both Local Government Areas where no fewer than 100 people were killed on the eve of Christmas.
A statement by the Head of Press for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Manzo Ezekiel, confirmed that Vice President Shettima held a Town Hall meeting with various stakeholders, urging them to help promote peace for harmonious co-existence and development of the State.
The statement said; “In furtherance of the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to support persons and communities affected by the recent violent attacks in some communities of Bokkos and Barkin Local Government Areas of Plateau State, Vice President Kashim Shettima today visited the victims and assured of measures to provide them with succour and address the security challenges.
“The Vice President, while addressing the displaced at a temporary camp in Bokkos, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was deeply concerned about sad incidents and directed security agencies to fish out those responsible to face wrath of the law.
“He informed them that National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been directed and prepositioned humanitarian items that will soon arrive the affected communities to provide them with succour.”
The statement further said that Vice President Shettima, in commiserating with the families that lost their loved ones, as well as injured and displaced residents, assured them that the Federal Government is committed to ensure peace and security across the country.
Also speaking at the event, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang of Plateau State commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government for the expressed resolve to support all affected persons while effectively addressing the security challenges across the State.
Governor Mutfwang, who specifically thanked the Vice President for visiting the State, expressed happiness over the humanitarian items brought for the victims by NEMA, and lauded the Agency’s Director General Mustapha Habib Ahmed for responding promptly to the people’s plight.
He promised to personally join the NEMA team to ensure an equitable and fair distribution of the items to all those affected in the deadly attacks.
Meanwhile, on arrival in Bokkos, the Director Planning Research and Forecasting, Dr. Onimode Bandele Abdullahi, who led the NEMA team on behalf of the Director General, had briefed Vice President Shettima on the humanitarian items meant for distribution to the affected persons.
The NEMA team also led the Vice President’s entourage, which included the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General CG Musa and Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), to the temporary IDP camp.
The Vice President was also joined on the visit by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3rd Division Nigeria Army and Heads of security agencies in the State.
On his part, Governor Mutfwang led senior State government officials and leaders of thoughts to receive the Vice President on the Plateau.
Other prominent indigenes of Plateau State present at the Stakeholders’ meeting are former Governors Joshua Dariye and Simon Lalong, traditional rulers led by the Gbong Gwom Jos, religious as well as community leaders.
