FG assures justice for victims of Plateau attacks, okays immediate succour

The Federal Government, yesterday, declared that it would not rest on its oars until victims of the gruesome attacks on communities in Barkin Ladi and Bokkos Local Councils of Plateau State get justice.

Vice President Kashim Shettima gave the assurance when he visited the affected settlements to condole with them over the Christmas Eve’s killings.

Vowing that the violence on the Plateau and other parts of the country must stop, Shettima stated: “Now, please accept our heartfelt condolences. Please accept our deepest apologies. We won’t rest until you access justice, and until you are safe.”

He informed the people about how heart-broken President Tinubu has been since he received the unfortunate news.

“When one community bleeds, the entire nation feels the pain. The pain we feel now transcends ethnicity or religion, geography or politics. The grief that binds us is a testament to our shared humanity, not differences,” the Vice President added.

Shettima assured the people that the Tinubu administration was out to protect them and ensure justice, even though it may appear as if the government had failed them in the past.

Noting that justice is the path to collective safety, unity and healing of the nation, he observed: “We came to power promising to uphold the sanctity of every citizen’s life, and now is the time to reassure you that this inter-community violence, which has hijacked the humanity and serenity of this beautiful state over the past decades, will never persist under our watch. We will harness all our resources to bring those responsible to justice; we will not rest until we are able to prevent the recurrence of these heinous acts.

“Your blood, your tears, and your cries stain our collective conscience. We are here for you, we are here, resolute in our commitment to ensuring that the perpetrators of these mindless killings face the full force of the law.”

Shettima, however, appealed to the people to resist what he described as “the temptation to succumb to sectional divisions or poisonous rhetoric of hatred” towards their fellow citizens, while assuring that the government was out to ensure justice and security for them.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has ordered immediate humanitarian support to victims of Christmas Eve attacks in Plateau State.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, (HAPA), Dr Betta Edu, made this known in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Rasheed Zubair, yesterday, in Abuja.

She said the ministry would immediately collaborate with the state government to assist survivors and affected communities.

The minister, who described the incidents as senseless, horrendous and inhuman, restated her ministry’s readiness to partner Plateau in rendering humanitarian assistance.

She said: “It was with utter shock and sadness that I received the news of the barbaric, horrendous and senseless attacks in Plateau communities, which have left over 100 people dead, many injured and several others displaced.”

“I condole with the government and people of Plateau State, especially families of the victims of this unnecessary assault on humanity, and pray for a permanent peace on the Plateau.”

Continuing, Edu stated: “One can only imagine the difficulties and indignities as well as catastrophic humanitarian challenges facing the survivors and affected members of the communities.

“As a ministry directly in charge of responding to humanitarian challenges of citizens in Nigeria, we have been directed by President Bola Tinubu to collaborate with the Plateau State government to bring humanitarian succour to survivors of the unfortunate attacks as well as the affected communities.

“We are unrelenting in our efforts to ensure that every Nigerian and all parts of Nigeria experiencing humanitarian crises are catered for in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”