•Says 218 killed, 7 villages sacked
Yemi Adedeji, Abuja
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Wednesday gave further details of the attacks in Plateau State allegedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen, saying 218 people were killed, several others missing, while seven villages were sacked.
Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant on Media to Samson Ayokunle, the CAN President, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja, where it also called on all security agencies to wake up to their constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and property.
The Christian body said that the security agencies should be pro-active in doing their jobs, stressing that mobilising troops and policemen after the havoc has been done does not make sense.
CAN stated categorically that a government that cannot protect the citizens is a failed government.
It stated: “The attention of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been drawn to planned wave of attacks to be unleashed on Southern Kaduna and other areas dominated by Christians in some states of the Middle Belt region.
“Specifically, CAN has been informed that some of these planned attacks are targeted at Southern Kaduna Chiefdoms and towns that include Gumel, Dagwarga, Daddu, Mariri, Kagoro, hotels, Open University and other soft targets, among others.
“While we are prone to dismiss these planned attacks as products of figments of imagination, we are, however, constrained to call the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari and other security agencies to be aware and take precautionary measures.
“Having witnessed unprecedented human carnage on the Plateau, we call on President Buhari to place the security agencies on red alert in order to avoid a similar recurrence. While we are happy at the statement credited to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that perpetrators of the Plateau carnage would not be allowed to escape justice, we are quick to remind and appeal to the federal government to at least stand by its promise to ensure that these blood-thirsty herdsmen are brought to book to face the full wrath of the law.”
“As the umbrella organisation for all Christians in Nigeria, we are at pains at the tragedy that has befallen our members. We mourn the death of over 200 Christians slaughtered on the Plateau at the weekend and we passionately appeal to the Buhari-led Administration to rise up and put a stop to further killings of innocent people, including defenseless women and children.”
“Following the killings that took place on the Plateau, CAN has obtained reliable information on the number of dead as recorded in B/Ladi & Riyom LGAs from Sat. 23rd to Monday 25th June, 2018
The breakdown of the villages attacked and the number of people killed include; “Gashish District: Nhyer – 80; Exland(G/Akwati) – 40; Ruku – 34; Kakuruk – 6; Kuzen – 5, Total – 165
” Ropp District: Gana Ropp – 34, Razat – 1, Kwang Jot Near Gen. Hospital (Takwok) – 1, Rakwok-2; Total – 38
“Bachi District: Shonong – 8; Riyom District: -Kwi – 1; Heipang District: -Chit Heipang 2; Vwang District: -K-Vom Vwang Jos South 1 (OPSH Killing).
“Zawan District: -Anguldi – 3 (OPSH Killings); and Grand Total – 218 deaths. Apart from the total number of the death, there are still missing persons. Many people also sustained various degrees of injuries,” CAN revealed.
Villages sacked in Bokkos LGAs include; “Hurti village in Mangunna Ward, Josho Village in Daffo Ward, Morok Daffo Ward, Ganda Mandung Daffo Ward, Hotom wurrim Daffo,Na kudung Daffo Ward, and Fara Dong Hai in Daffo Ward.”
CAN
CAN therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to replace all the security chiefs and the Inspector General of Police because they have overstayed their welcome, noting that It is ridiculous and embarrassing that in the last three years, none of these criminals have been apprehended, detained, arraigned and convicted.
This, it said is what has embolden herdsmen to kill the innocent with impunity, warning that Nigeria is approaching a state of anarchy faster than it can imagine.