RE: BEROM: WHEN 1,000 IS COMPLETE
Professor Salisu Shehu, Deputy Secretary General, Nigerian Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) “Matters Arising from the Plateau”: The NSCIA, under the leadership of its President-General the Sultan of Sokoto, expresses shock on the tragic bloodbath and savagery emanating for the umpteenth time from Plateau State. We strongly demand that the Federal Government hold the […]
Professor Salisu Shehu, Deputy Secretary General, Nigerian Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) “Matters Arising from the Plateau”: The NSCIA, under the leadership of its President-General the Sultan of Sokoto, expresses shock on the tragic bloodbath and savagery emanating for the umpteenth time from Plateau State. We strongly demand that the Federal Government hold the people living in the communities around the Lafendeng Du pond responsible for the disappearance of retired Major General Idris Alkali and the ordinary civilians whose lives had been gruesomely terminated. These include Zayyanu Shallah (Manager, Department of Universal Service Provision Fund, Nigeria Communication Commission, NCC), and Jubril Mailafia (an award-winning Film Editor and Animator) who were murdered in the same community. The guilty conscience of these terrorists had made them use their women to attempt stopping the search of the pond. The leader of those barely-clad women and her co-travellers should be arrested immediately and investigated to determine their culpability in the disappearance of the General and the death of others. The efforts of the present Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Honourable Simon Bako Lalong, is commendable compared to his predecessor. Lolong’s Administration in the last three and a half years has been different from what obtained in the immediate past the then State Government brazenly took sides and was culpable in many situations.
Lawal Shehu ([email protected]): Pity you seemed to be apologetic towards the end of your article. You wondered why Channels, etc, did not do a 24-hour coverage of the exhumations at the Plateau pond as they usually do when, for instance, cows stray into a primary school in Edo State. But I would rather say, why were there no Hausa-Fulani journalists tagging and documenting the military as they doggedly continued their search of the suspicious pond? Secondly, we should worry why our wealthy do not consider setting up world class television stations to propagate the Muslim Hausa-Fulani perspective of events. I believe this should relieve the impotent rage many of us feel every time the scale is unfairly tilted against us!
Aminu Maikudi ([email protected]): Well said.
Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, Secretary General, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) “Rejoinder to CAN and Senator Jonah D. Jang, former Governor of Plateau State on Hate-Laden Statements”: We are compelled to think that the unwarranted hate-laden opinions expressed by CAN and Senator Jang are misguided sentiments not necessarily true reflection of the Nigerian Christians, because there are many good Christians in Nigeria. Senator Jang has said: ‘It Is Dangerous To Trust Buhari With Our Security’. This statement is utter mischief intended to cause anarchy between the rank and file of the military, himself being a former. He specifically chose his words so as to cause instability and uprising. We however don’t blame him; it is the fault of the Government of the day that has allowed persons of such ilk to continue to be reckless in their utterances and actions. The CAN President, on the other hand, said: ‘…many youths were killed because of a missing ex-soldier’. For the avoidance of doubt, retired General Alkali is not just a missing ex-soldier but an incorruptible and fine gentleman who meritoriously served Nigeria for 35 years as well as immediate past Army Chief of Admin. CAN President should watch his unguarded utterances. JNI calls on Government to set up a commission of inquiry over the remote cause(s) of this matter; Government should go beyond mere condemnation of incidences of this magnitude and act swiftly in restoring law and order; Government should decisively act against some prominent ethnic chauvinists and religious bigots who are working hands in gloves in fanning embers of ethno-religious polarisation in the state as well as in Nigeria; all ponds in Lafendeng, Dura Du District and within Riyom, Heipang and Kassa in Barikin Ladi axis should be drained and investigated. Nigerians will be shocked over the startling revelations that would come out.
Antele Madugu ([email protected]): I am a Berom Nigerian citizen concerned with the use of the term ‘The Berom’. This refers to a whole tribe of people. Such generalization without factual evidence is defamatory and against the provisions of Section 373 of the Criminal Code Act. The Berom community is very large and occupies four local government areas in Plateau State. You cannot take the actions of a few from a particular area who are already being investigated by the Nigerian government and conclude that all Berom people are hateful. I do not believe a national and respectable daily paper like yours will allow such biased and defamatory article to be published. A reminder; it was hate speech like this that fuelled the Rwandan genocide. The Nigerian government recently submitted a bill against hate speech and I am surprised you will allow such to be published.
Muhammad Sani ([email protected]): It is indeed a good and well-structured article. May Allah bless you and increase you in wisdom and knowledge, and may the message reach those Beroms that have the habit of killing innocent Muslims.
Kira Jehu ([email protected]): I am Fulani myself. I must say I was perplexed at your use of words for it draws a line between religion and culture. A high-placed columnist like you should know that certain words, phrases and sayings should not be used in papers. And the people you are referring to on another perspective are innocent and have also been targeted by unknown assailants who the government has successfully labelled Fulani. As Fulani myself, I sympathize with no one. All I am trying to point out is the need to stop pointing accusing fingers, thus fuelling the conflict.
Prof Ishaq Akintola, Director, The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC): “Stop Berom Christian Terrorism Now”: The Berom Christian terrorists are in the habit of blocking major highways, stopping vehicles and profiling occupants. Those who look like Muslims are dragged out and slaughtered on the spot. Their dead bodies are usually dumped in their notorious ponds. MURIC appeals to the Chief of Army Staff to leave no stone unturned in finding General Alkali dead or alive. Nigerian Muslims want to know what happened to him. A whole retired general cannot disappear into thin air just like that. It is a daring assault on the Nigerian Army. We want the culprits identified, apprehended and duly punished according to the laws of the land. The Army must also find their sponsors no matter how highly placed. We are also interested in knowing the identities of the owners of the four cars found along with the general’s car. Our strong suspicion is that they were all Muslims driving through Berom territory before they were profiled, murdered and dumped in the pond. The wind has blown and we have seen the ruff of the hen.
Jamilu Hassan ([email protected]): Let me begin with this – there is no justification in killing innocent travellers to avenge the killing of your people. Likewise, there is also no justification in killing people due to cattle rustling. The ancient ‘labi’ (cattle route) is no more due to population explosion. The only solution to this senseless mayhem is ranching.
Abbati Dankanti Gumel ([email protected]): It always beats my imagination why things are getting worse in this country in terms of security. The answer to all these problems is to rightly punish culprits. How do we punish culprits when the leaders are afraid to implement the law? Unless and until ‘fear or favour’ are removed from our leaders, we shall continue to experience more atrocities committed by untouchables! We cannot fold our arms when government keeps mute. We must address these problems to serve as deterrent to other communities wishing to do the same acts of vandalism! Enough is enough!