*Govs Mutfwang, Zulum condemn actions
BY ORIAKU IJELE, GABRIEL IDIBIA (KADUNA) & DAVID DACHEN (JOS)
It was a weekend wrenched by palpable anxiety as scores of Nigerians either got displaced or lost their lives in communities across North Central and North East geopolitical zones, following attacks by non-state actors, ranging from gunmen to a female suicide bomber and angry mob, who descended on innocent wedding guests intercepted while on transit.
In Konduga, Borno State, the nation was rustled into the reality of suicide bombing as a lone female bomber left no fewer than 24 persons killed and several others injured on Friday night.
The Borno Police Command, which confirmed this on Saturday said the improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated at a food joint, where the attacker targeted residents who had gathered in a large number to buy food.
Police spokesman, Daso said the body of the suicide bomber was severely dismembered by the blast, with only the head recovered from the scene.
“Following the incident, a joint response team comprising the Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal – Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Unit, Military, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and local hunters was deployed to the scene,” he added.
“The injured victims were evacuated to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), where they are currently receiving treatment, while the remains of the deceased were also deposited at the hospital mortuary.
“The victims were confirmed dead by medical personnel on duty,” he said.
It was the same gory tale in Plateau, where about 12 wedding guests, travelling in a bus conveying about 31 people were attacked and killed by a mob, barely 20 hours after 19 persons lost their lives during an unprovoked attack by suspected herders on Thursday. Blamed on the youths in what seemed like a reprisal following the previous day’s incident, the killing of the wedding guests travelling to Kaduna has drawn widespread reactions from leaders of the states involved.
Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, condemned the murder of the travelers and called for calm when he visited the scene of the incident on Saturday.
According to him, “I have reached out to my brother, Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State and the Emir of Zazzau; I have briefed them on this unfortunate incident.
“This is not something that we are happy with; this is not an occurrence that we will condone.
“So, we condemn it in all totality, and we have made a pledge that any act of criminality would not be tolerated.
“I therefore want to use this medium again to call upon the youth of Plateau, that it is time to be very sensible.
“It is time to be wise. If you find strangers in your midst, call for interrogation to avoid a case of mistaken identity and not take laws into your hands,” he said.
In the same vein, Governor Zulum equally called for calm following the suicide bombing. While visiting the survivors in the hospital.
Zulum, in a statement by his spokesperson, Dauda Iliya, expressed grief over the incident, stating, “The barbaric acts committed by these terrorists are not only heinous but an assault on our shared humanity.”
He added, “This is a cowardly and barbaric attempt to instill fear in the people and undermine our collective resilience. The people of Borno are resilient, and we refuse to be cowed by terrorists.”
“I call on the people of Borno to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies. We should understand that community cooperation is vital in the fight against insurgency.
“To the families who have lost loved ones, I extend my deepest sympathies and pray to Allah for the quick recovery of those who are injured,” Zulum said.
In the same vein, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State condemned the killing of 12 citizens of Kaduna in Mangu LGA to Plateau State, demanding that the killers should be brought to justice.
The Governor made the call in statement he personally signed and availed to newsmen in Kaduna through his Chief Press Secretary, Ibraheem Musa on Saturday.
The statement stressed that Kaduna received with shock and deep sorrow, news of the killing of 12 Kaduna citizens in the troubled Mangun District of Mangu Local Government, Plateau State, with 11 others sustained various degrees of injuries.
The statement added that the innocent travelers met their deaths while traveling to Quan Pan Local Government of Plateau State for a wedding ceremony.
“We condemn in the strongest terms these acts of savagery. The criminals must be fished out and dealt with accordingly. We call on security agencies to leave no stone unturned until these criminal elements are hunted down and brought to justice.
“We must put a stop to the nefarious activities of non-state actors. There is no justification for anybody to attack any citizen of Nigeria in any part of the country. This madness must stop. Enough is enough.
“I also call on the Plateau State Governor, His Excellency, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang to use this unfortunate incident to make a bold statement. He must take full charge of the situation and direct the operations of the security agencies until the murderers are brought to justice.
“I will personally follow up on the progress made in the investigations and field operations in search of the criminals. We must send a clear signal that impunity will no longer be tolerated.
“Let me use this opportunity to call on the citizens of Kaduna State to remain calm. All hands are on deck to ensure that our murdered citizens get justice. We have made remarkable progress in peace building and conflict transformation in Kaduna State.
“The Kaduna Peace Model is a pointer to the fact that with political will, commitment and sincerity of purpose, a toxic environment can be turned to an “oasis of peace”. The situation in Plateau State is not irredeemable. The bloodshed must stop.
“Our deepest condolences to the families of our citizens who lost their precious lives in Mangu Local Government. I am in touch with the families of the victims. We shall do all in our power to lessen their pains. We shall also ensure that the injured victims receive adequate medical attention. May the gentle souls of our departed citizens rest in perfect peace” it stated.
