• Nigerians must not allow religious war –Osinbajo
Gyang Bere, Jos
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has appealed to Nigerians not to exploit the prevailing insecurity to plunge the country into religious war.
Osinbajo also disclosed that the Federal Government has ordered the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of the killings in Plateau State, at the weekend.
The vice president said this in Jos, yesterday, during a meeting with Governor Simon Lalong, security agencies, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba and warring communities in the state.
“It is a very condemnable act and whatever it takes, we must ensure that we do not only arrest those who have committed this heinous crime but they are seen to be publicly punished for this action.
“It is also unfortunate that some people who are looking at their own personal interests will want to take advantage of the killings of men, women, and children; I don’t know what it is becoming of them when they want to take advantage of the killings. We will look at this with a great deal of concern.”
“We must not allow religious crisis in this country, we should not allow this to continue. We should have it at the back of our mind that no country in the world have ever survived from a religious crisis. I want to advise leaders to show restraint in what we say.
“This is unexpected; after so many efforts have been made to secure peace in Plateau. We had a meeting with the president and he said it was important I come here to have a full meeting with the governor, all the security agencies and the communities just to have an understanding, with regards to what the federal government can do to help the situation.” He added that government will not allow the prevailing security challenges to continue and urged the security agencies to rise to their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.
“The federal government will not allow this to stand, this kind of thing is completely inexcusable, there is no reason for this. Plateau state was becoming a model for peace in the country and we will not allow the insecurity to prevail…”
On his part, Governor Simon Lalong said he was disappointed when he heard that the conflict was between the Berom and the Fulani, and added that the peace committee set up between the two communities was becoming a model of emulation in the country.
He said the committee recommendations was recently transmitted to the House of Assembly; to see how they could become law, for other communities in the state to emulate.
Lalong appreciated the federal government and said his administration will not rest until lasting peace is restored in the state.