From Yakubu Busari ,Jos
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State
The Middle Belt Journalists’ Forum, MBJF, has urged the public to exercise restraint from making inflammatory comments on the latest killings in Jos, the Plateau state capital, which led to the death of scores 22 travellers. They also tasked their colleagues to disallow their platform from being used in conveying messages that are destructive and unethical.
Mr Jonathan Ipaa, President and Mrs Oikeke Igado-Kure, National Secretary, also warned against incessant assaults and reprisals attacks in Jos.
Arising from an assessment meeting in Abuja, the MBJF condemned in strong terms, any killings of human beings irrespective of race, sex or religion and whatever other reason.
According to them; “At this point, we will repeat the plea that, instead of propaganda and counter propaganda, it’s better to have an honest thorough investigation to all the allegations.
“We pray that such investigations will truly unravel the root cause of the breakdown of peace and harmony in Plateau and the Middle Belt in general. Nobody should be afraid of the truth regardless of where the truth falls.
The Forum called for that a meeting of all stakeholder and representatives of all the diverse groups in the state to look into the root causes of the insecurity challenges plaguing the state with a viewing to making agreements that are binding to state and non-state actors.
The Forum however took an exception to the “ethnic profiling on criminal acts, as contained in the Police’ first statement on the issue last Saturday.
“The Plateau state police command, had alleged even before investigation, that the Irigwe youths, may have been responsible for the Saturday’s killings but failed short to disclose the identity of the killers of the previous eighty persons recorded.
“Accordingly, some media reports that have lifted up the sentiment thus profiling the Irigwe community who had lost over eighty persons from similar circumstances, as masterminds.
“Recall that the Middle Belt Journalists Forum had petitioned concerned authorities to act decisively to prevent the escalation of the crisis when eighty persons (80) were reportedly massacred within four days.
“We appeal to the authorities to be swift, decisive and thorough on their investigation to serve as deterrent to further killings of innocent people.
“We call on the Federal Government to avoid sentiment, chase criminals out of the Middle Belt areas in particular and Nigeria in general.
“To those flying religious kites, we reaffirm our commitment to both Christian and Islamic religions which are espoused by indigenes of the Middle Belt who have co-existed seamlessly with themselves and visitors and residents of all other faiths by respecting each others’ religion.
“We also appeal to the security agencies to be even handed in dealing with both incidents in that axis of Plateau State in particular and in all other places in Nigeria.
