Twenty-five persons were confirmed killed and 14 injured along Rukuba road in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau state on Saturday, August 14, 2021.
The victims, identified as Muslim faithful who were heading back after attending an Islamic programme in Bauchi, were attacked while travelling from Bauchi en-route Jos to Ikare in Ondo state.
Reacting, in a statement signed by spokesperson Simon Makut, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, condemned the attack and warned troublemakers bent on fomenting trouble in the state to desist as the government will not allow any form of lawlessness to disrupt the peace of the state.
The Governor said that attacks on innocent citizens, no their matter their background, will never be tolerated in the State and those who are found to be behind such attacks will be dealt with decisively to serve as deterrent and restore public order.
The statement added that the Governor has also directed security agencies to swiftly identify and arrest perpetrators.
Also, in a statement signed by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, the Presidency described the attack as “brazen and wickedly”.
The statement read:
“It is widely known that Plateau State has been one of the states affected by herder-farmer clashes, which have, in a significant way, been curtailed following the intense peace-building efforts of the administration of Governor Simon Lalong,” the Presidency statement said.
“However, to be clear, this is not an agriculturalist-on-pastoralist confrontation – but rather a direct, brazen and wickedly motivated attack on members of a community exercising their rights to travel freely and to follow the faith of their choosing.
“With the evident preparedness of their attackers, it is clear this was a well-conceived and prearranged assault on a known target, location and religious persuasion of the travellers not an opportunist ambush.
“The Presidency offers condolences to the families of the victims and continues to liaise closely with the local authorities – including security, the police, and governmental agencies.
“These kinds of attacks on our country’s citizens are unacceptable, heinous, and stand in complete contradiction to the teachings of the great religions of our nation.
“The Presidency stands steadfast with both Christians and Muslims at this time in condemnation of this latest attack and expects and insists that justice is swiftly – but fairly – delivered to the perpetrators.
“As the facts of the sad incident continue to unfold, the Presidency commends the ongoing efforts by the Governors of Plateau, Bauchi, and Ondo; the Sultan of Sokoto His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar III and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi as well as a number of notable Christian and Muslim leaders as they intensify efforts to calm down the situation”.
Also reacting to the incidence, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has appealed to residents of the state not to take laws into their hands over the attack on indigenes of the State.
In a statement signed by his spokesperson, the Governor assured them that the situation is under control.
He also appealed to the people to refrain from any hasty colouration of the incident, maintaining that Ondo state indigenes living in Plateau State are not targets of any religion or ethnic crisis.
The spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven, a military task force set up to maintain peace in Plateau State, Major Ishaku Takwa, said 12 persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, while normalcy has been restored in the area.
