”We will take action if your response is not favourable” Sheikh tells State govt.
”I’ll not allow celigious crisis in Plateau” – Lalong
Ondo govt. delegation meets Fulani community
The death toll from the attack that happened in the Rukuba area of Plateau, Jos-North local government area on Saturday has reached 28 and many are still missing.
The victims, who were mostly Fulani from Ondo State had attended an annual Zikr (prayer session) and celebration of the Islamic New Year, which held at the Dahiru Usman Bauchi mosque, in Bauchi, and were travelling in a convoy of five 18-seater coaster buses, when they were attacked.
In a swift reaction, the Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, called on the Plateau State government to compensate families of his followers murdered and those injured last Saturday in Jos, urging Muslims not to take laws into their hands.
He, however, warned that his group will take action if the governments action over the incident is not favourable to them.
Recall that twenty-five members of the Tijjaniya Movement coming from Bauchi where they attended the annual Muharram prayers for peace and Jumaat dhikr organized by Sheikh Bauchi were killed by youths in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Saturday, while many others were declared missing.
Reacting to the massacre in a video made available to newsmen yesterday by the Director of Information, Sheikh Usman Bauchi Foundation, Ahmed Mohammed, in Bauchi, the cleric, called on the Plateau State Governor, Simeon Lalong, to not only compensate the victims but also ensure there is no recurrence of such incident.
Each time my people are on their way, travelling to deliver the gospel of God, they get attacked and killed in Jos, Plateau State. As a result of this, we will take action now.
Sheikh Bauchi lamented that last Saturdays killings of members of the Tijjaniya Movement was not the first time, saying enough is enough for the killing of his people. We will not forgive and forget. We will not take action that is unacceptable by the Islamic religion, he said.
We are calling on the Plateau State governor to pay compensation to those that were killed and those that were injured. The Plateau State government should promise that such will never happen again, Sheikh Bauchi said.
He enjoined the government to probe the killings, saying that, we are waiting for government quick intervention and decision. If the governments decision is not okay by us we will take action by our hands. He called on Muslim faithful across the country not to take laws into their hands by retaliating the killings of their brethren with a view to ensuring that peace reigns in the country, saying that, we should remain calm.
In reaction, the Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, has stated that he will clamp down on any attempt to incite crisis in the state through the dissemination of false information.
Recall that twenty-two travellers were killed on Saturday following an attack that occurred along Rukuba road in Jos-North LGA of the State.
The attack, which targeted a convoy of buses conveying some worshippers returning to Ondo after attending an Islamic programme in Bauchi.
Lalong, while speaking yesterday, after a visit to some of the victims said his government would arrest and deal with anyone spreading inciting messages on social media. We will not allow religious crisis in the state, the governor said.
The Special Task Force’s ‘Operation Safe Haven’ in Plateau said it has arrested 12 suspects over the attack.
According to the immediate past SSA to Ondo State Governor on Hausa/Fulani matters, Bala Umar, who made this known while welcoming Governor Rotimi Akeredolus delegation to the Fulani community in Ikare and Ikarimu who came to pay a condolence visit, the death toll has reached 28 while 11 victims are in critical condition at the hospital.
Umar added that 33 people have also been discharged from the hospital, while some are still missing out of the 91 people who made the journey. Initial information from the security agencies said 23 people were killed and many were in the hospital.
Meanwhile, thirty-three suspects have now been arrested in connection with the killing while another 33 victims from the waylaid convoy of five buses have been rescued.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, gave the update yesterday, disclosing 13 more arrests after the initial 20 suspects were arrested.
Speaking to newsmen after meeting with the Hausa/Fulani community, Aiyedatiwa said the Governor sent the delegation to identify with the people because they are residents of Ondo State.
