Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) Nigeria has strongly condemned the massacre of travelling Muslims in Central Nigeria’s Plateau state, saying there is no cause that can justify the senseless killing of the innocent based on religious differences.
Muslim News had earlier reported how a suspected militias group believed to be youths of Irigwe attacked a convoy of 90 Muslims on Saturday, leaving at least 22 people dead, while 14 others sustained various degrees of injuries.
The spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, ASP Gabriel Ogaba confirmed the incident, saying; “On 14th August 2021 at about 09:28 hours, the Plateau State Police Command received a distress call that a group of attackers suspected to be Irigwe youths and their sympathisers along Rukuba Road of Jos North LGA attacked a convoy of five buses with Muslim faithful who were coming back from the Annual Zikr prayer in Bauchi State and heading to Ikare in Ondo State.
“Unfortunately, 22 persons were killed and Fourteen injured in the attack.”
According to him, “Upon receipt of the report, a team of police personnel, the military and other sister agencies were immediately mobilised to the scene where 21 victims were rescued and six suspects arrested.
Although normalcy has since returned to the area, many Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari have continued to react to the attack on the innocent Nigerian Muslims.
MPAC, through her Director, Mal. Kamor Disu strongly condemned this massacre of innocent Muslims who were going about their religious activities, saying those who have committed this heinous crime have gone beyond the basic principles of humanity.
Mal. Disu said there is no cause that can justify the senseless killing of the innocent based on religious differences.
“This perverted mindset that sheds blood without regard to any human is a common threat to all Nigerians, and together, we must confront and challenge it,” he noted.
Speaking further, the MPAC Nigeria Director said, “The type of senseless violence that continues to plague the nation requires those prosecuting the war against terrorism to not only intensify the fight against Boko Haram and all groups involved in terrorism/insurgency/ kidnapping, but as a matter of necessity, they must change their tactics in order to be more effective and proactive.
“Plateau remains the hotbed of religious and tribal clashes, but these crises are a security challenge that directly affects all parts of the country. As thousands of Nigerians are at the risk of losing their lives to the unrelenting terrorist and Islamophobic attacks, this is no time for those in government and the service chiefs to be complacent. We urge the government to become more proactive and put the necessary measures and policies in place to protect the lives of its citizens.
MPAC Nigeria sent condolences to the families of the victims and the entire communities affected, praying Allah to heal the wounded and grant the dead the status of martyrs.
