Declare day of national mourning on Plateau killings, NANS tells FG
The National Association of Nigerian Students had called on the Federal Government to declare a day of national mourning on the recent killings in Plateau State.
It also said it was embarrassing that no one has been arrested in connection with the recent killings in Plateau State.
About 195 persons were killed in a Christmas Eve attack in 17 villages in the Barkin Ladi, Mangu, and Bokkos Local Government Areas of the state.
The attacks had also displaced over 10,000 persons, many of whom were presently camped in churches, mosques, schools, and private residences.
President Bola Tinubu as well as other prominent individuals and groups had condemned the killings, even as the United Nations demanded a probe of the attack.
Reacting to the incident in a statement made available to our correspondent on Friday, the students’ body said, “We are saddened by the news of tens of worshippers who were brutally murdered in cold blood by blood-thirsty gunmen in Plateau State.”
In the statement by NANS Senate President, Ekundina Elvis, the association expressed concern that “ever since the news filtered into the media space, we find it highly embarrassing that the murderers are yet to be identified, arrested, and prosecuted in a law court.”
NANS said it also found it disturbing that “no concrete step has been taken by the government to honour the memories of those that were killed.”
The association called on the government to protect the lives and property of the Nigerians, asking the ruling class to stop the condolence visitations.
“As an association, we want to say that enough condolence visitations by our ruling class, the government must make concerted efforts towards the protection of lives and property of the Nigerian people.
“Conclusively, we charge the Federal Government to declare a day of national mourning while the Nigerian flag at all levels is flown at half mast,” the statement concluded.
The invaders had threatened fresh attacks on a community in Plateau State, barely four days after the first massacre.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Middle Belt Forum, Stanley Kavwam, had in an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, said the terrorists sent a letter of an imminent attack to Pushit Community, in the Mangu Local Government Area, where he hailed from.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Alabo Alfred, told The PUNCH that the command was aware of the threat.
“We have intelligence, but we are working on it,” the PPRO had said.
