Chidi Samuel || The Sultan of Sokoto lead Jama’atu Nasril Islam on Monday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to wake up to its statutory responsibility of protecting lives and property of Nigerians across the country.
The wake-up call, according to a statement by Dr. Khalid Abubakar-Aliyu, the national publicity secretary of the Muslim body has become imperative following the killings by suspected herdsmen of villagers in the Bassa LGA, Plateau State.
The religious body while condemning the attack which left several people dead and over 150 houses destroyed, however, cautioned security operatives against taking sides with any warring party in Plateau State and other parts of the country.
The JNI also called on the authorities not to spare anyone culpable in the sundry attacks.
“The Jama’atu Nasril Islam received with grave concern, the news of premeditated killings of innocent persons and destruction of properties worth millions in the Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, as well as Rukuba Chiefdom in the same Bassa LGA”, the statement read in part.
“Attacks and counter-attacks were carried out repeatedly and reports reaching us state that over 150 houses were razed while animals were not spared.
“The JNI condemns in the strong terms the heinous attacks in their totality.
“We nonetheless, expect the Plateau State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria through their respective relevant agencies to wake up to their respective responsibilities of protecting lives and property.”
The JNI called on the citizens to eschew bitterness and live peacefully with one another.
“We also call on government to provide relief materials to all affected victims as they are now in utmost need for such.
“Similarly, the need for an all-encompassing surveillance in flash points on the Plateau cannot be overemphasised to avoid a recurrence of the incident.”