Muslim Rights Concern demands arrest of Christian militia members who killed 22 in Plateau State

ISLAMIC campaign association Muslim Rights Concern (Muric) has called for the immediate rounding up of all members of the Christian militia group that is said to have killed 22 unarmed Muslim travellers in Rukuba near Jos yesterday.

Early yesterday morning, there were skirmishes along the Rukuba Road area of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, which claimed many lives and left several others injured. Reports say that 23 of those attacked lost their lives while an additional 23 persons sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment.

After the bloody clashes, 26 others were said to have been rescued unhurt and so far, 20 suspects have been arrested, with security agencies are conducting investigations to get to the bottom of the matter. Muric director Professor Ishaq Akintola, has subsequently called for the immediate arrest of everyone involved in the attack.

Muric condemned the massacre, describing it as barbaric and demanded the rounding up of all members of the Irigwe Christian militia alleged to be behind the attack. According to Professor Akintola, the Muslims attended the annual dhikr prayer in Bauchi State and were returning to Ikare in Ondo State, when they were waylaid by the notorious Irigwe Christian militia.

Professor Akintola said: “They must be brought to justice. They ran away from the crime scene when they saw security men approaching but they had participated in the killing of 22 and wounding of 14 before taking to their heels.

“It is not possible for the six who were arrested to have been the only attackers as only six attackers could not have surrounded people who filled five buses, so the rest must be fished out. We reject the crocodile tears and lies of Governors Lalong of Jos and Akeredolu of Ondo State who claimed that the attack was a case of mistaken identity.

“This excuse is the first sign of executive conspiracy. It is a shame that Akeredolu will trivialise the massacre of citizens of his own state simply because the victims happen to be Muslims.

“How can anybody say Muslims from Ikare in Ondo State were killed in such a large number due to mistaken identity? That is balderdash, it is unthinkable. Who do the Christian terrorists have the right to attack and kill for their pleasure and who should they spare?"

He added that Governor Lalong’s body language is making it difficult for Muslims to trust him, adding that this is an attempt to sweep the killings under the carpet because his kinsmen are the culprits and he has a history of covering up their crimes. Governor Lalong has imposed a curfew from 6pm to 6am in Jos North, Bassa and Jos South local government areas of the state until further notice.

Governor Lalong said his government was concerned about the persisting tensions and attempts by some persons to take the laws into their hands by threatening to attack individuals and private facilities, as well as public property. He added that in order to avoid further security breaches and to protect lives and properties of citizens, he has decided to impose a curfew on the affected areas.