Jama’atu Nasirl Islam (JNI) and the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria have spoken on the killings in Plateau state, asking the Federal Government and Army authorities to fish out and prosecute those involved, especially in the recent disappearance of Major General I.M Alkali and other Muslims passersby in Du part of the state.
The Supreme Council for Islamic Shariah in Nigeria at a separate press conference in Kaduna said, Plateau has become the most spectacular theatre of mass killings, especially of Muslims and Hausa Fulani people.
The Secretary-General of JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu during a press conferences in Kaduna on Monday called on the government to as a matter of reconciliation and fairness, set up a commission of inquiry over the remote cause(s) and proffer far reaching solutions and implement them on the unfortunate reoccurrences of crisis on the Plateau.
The Muslim bodies said the atrocities being committed along that route against innocent Nigerians travelers must end saying, “It is sad that the atrocities have been allowed to go on for so long until an Army General was murdered that the authorities woke up to take action.”
JNI also tasked the government to go beyond mere condemnation of incidences of this magnitude but should be seen to act swiftly in restoring law and order, especially in legendary troubled areas.
“We call on Government and the Nigerian Army not to be deterred on the professional search for Major General I. M. Alkali and whosoever is found wanting on his abduction and/or murder should be dealt with, within the confine of the rule of law. Hence, the Nigerian Army is strongly called upon to continue to investigate the matter and we call on the people of Plateau state to cooperate accordingly.
“Equally, government should decisively act against some prominent ethnic chauvinists and religious bigots who are working hands in gloves in fanning the embers of ethno-religious polarisation in the state, as well as in Nigeria.”
JNI further urged the government to be more proactive in saving the lives and property of innocent Nigerians adding, “All ponds in Lafendeng, Dura Du District, and/or human abattoirs within Riyom, Heipang and Kassa in Barikin Ladi axis should be uncovered, including their criminal hideouts, as Nigeria and Nigerians would be shocked over the startling revelations that would come out of the exercise.”
While calling on Muslims particularly those residing on the Plateau should be steadfast with supplications, he called for the involvement of committed experts of Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) to mop-up arms from all and sundry on the Plateau and treat as criminals anyone found with arms.
Engineer AbdulRahman Hassan who addressed newsmen alongside other members of the Supreme Council of Shariah said, the government should as a matter of urgency drain the Du pond where vehicles, including that of the missing General Alkali were found for more possible discovery.
According to Shariah Council, “A conservative estimate of the cases of genocide and ethnic cleansing of Muslims across the country, especially the Middle Belt, has engulfed the lives, put at over 200,000 innocent souls, with properties worth billions of Naira destroyed.
“Since early 2001, the Plateau has become the most spectacular theatre of mass killings and destruction of properties by the so called “indigenous Christians”.
“We will not for a single moment forget the horrendous atrocities perpetrated by Christian militia on various Muslim communities at different occasions and at different parts of this country, in places like Mambila Plateau, Numan, Wase, Wukari, Kuru Jenta, Zangon Kataf, Kafanchan, Zonkwa, Kaduna, Tafawa Balewa etc.
The one that stands indelible in our memory is the plight of over 100 Muslim women and children that were abducted and carted away by Christians as “booty” after the 2004 massacre in Yelwan Shendam, Plateau State. Some of them are still in captivity despite the several complaints we lodged with relevant authorities.
“The startling discovery of General Alkali’s car and others in the deadly pond of the Du community, has established the existence of these ponds on the Plateau where the bodies of intentionally murdered Nigerians that are either Muslims or Hausa-Fulanis, are wickedly dumped by the Berom Christian Terrorist.
“Sadly, based on the formal and informal reports of missing people along that axis, we can factually state that, this cowardly act has been going on for long. This, we come to know! The “Berom organizations” as they called themselves, under the auspices of Berom Educational and Cultural Organization (BECO), Berom Women Development Association (BEWDA) and Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) are clearly accomplice in this murderous act. The brazen show of shame by more than 500 Berom Christian women that protested against the search at the pond in order to stop the Army from draining it is a strong indicator to the complicity of the whole community.
“The Despite the thousands of lives trapped, abducted, maimed, killed, and dishonourably dumped in ponds and wells for so long, it is now apparent that if, an Army General was not abducted, many Nigerians have the feeling that, our security agencies wouldn’t have done anything regarding this dastardly act. It seems it doesn’t matter to the Governments that citizens have been disappearing to the hands of syndicates of murderous communities such as that of Berom,” Supreme Council for Shariah said.
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