The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has condemned the killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen in some communities in Riyom and Barkin Ladi local government areas of Plateau State.
ACF called on the state government to as a matter of urgency reactivate its peace building and community consultations initiative launched two years ago by Governor Simon Lalong, with the aim of finding a lasting solution to the incessant hostilities between herdsmen and Birom communities.
The Forum in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu also called on the security agencies to always be proactive in their operations in order to avert such incidence.
According to the statement, “Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, is deeply touched by the recent unwarranted and wanton destruction of innocent lives and property by some armed bandits in some communities in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Plateau State.
“The heinous acts by the gunmen or bandits were callous and inhuman, considering the huge number of casualties in terms of lives lost and settlements affected.
“Unfortunately, travelers plying the roads within the local government areas affected were also victims of the attacks.
“Killing of innocent people for whatever reasons cannot in any way address the perceived concerns or grievances of the perpetrators of these crimes.
“ACF once more appeals to all aggrieved persons to always channel their grievances through due process of law rather than taking the law into their hands.
“This is because both the attacks and reprisals are targeted at innocent people who know nothing about the feuds.
“ACF condemns the spate of killings of innocent people by armed bandits and gunmen not only in Plateau State but also the ones in some other northern states.
“The forum therefore calls on the Security Agencies to always be proactive in their operations in order to avert such incidence.
“The issue of intelligence gathering and sharing should be a continuous and sustained effort by both the community and the security agencies to ensure peaceful coexistence within the communities, considering the need for peaceful coexistence is sine qua non for any meaningful socioeconomic development to take place.
“ACF equally calls upon the Plateau State government to reactivate its peace building and community consultations initiative launched two years ago by Governor Simon Lalong, which was aimed at finding a lasting solution to the incessant hostilities between herdsmen and Birom communities in Plateau state.
“ACF extends its condolences to the affected communities of Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas, the government and good people of Plateau State as well as the families affected over the unfortunate incidence. May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace.”
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