By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condemned the recent wave of deadly attacks in Plateau State and Kaduna State, describing the perpetrators as “barbaric and cowardly” and vowing that those responsible will be brought to justice.
The President’s reaction followed attacks by gunmen in Angwan Rukuba district of Jos, as well as incidents in Kahir village in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where lives were lost and wedding guests reportedly killed or abducted.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said the attacks represented “an affront to all that Nigeria stands for,” warning that such acts were capable of triggering reprisals and escalating violence if not decisively addressed.
“Anyone who will sneak under the cover of the night and kill defenceless citizens as done in Jos and Kahir village is a heartless coward. By attacking soft targets, their objective is not only to cause harm but also to trigger a spiral of reprisal attacks and further bloodletting,” the President said.
He directed security agencies to intensify efforts to track down the perpetrators, as well as those spreading misinformation capable of inflaming tensions.
The President also cautioned sections of the media against prematurely attributing the attacks to religious motives.
President Tinubu reaffirmed that security agencies were actively responding to the situation and stressed the importance of public cooperation in maintaining peace and safeguarding lives and property.
He urged affected communities to comply with evacuation and relocation advisories issued by relevant authorities.
While commending the safe return of two abducted victims in Kaduna, the President called for the immediate rescue of others still in captivity.
“I urge our security agencies to be more proactive in preventing these attacks by acting on early warning intelligence. All the remaining abductees from Kahir village must be rescued immediately,” he said.
The President also commended Caleb Mutfwang for efforts to contain the situation in Jos, and Uba Sani for supporting rescue and stabilisation operations in Kaduna.
He assured the governments and people of both states of federal support, while expressing condolences to families of victims and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
President Tinubu further disclosed that the Federal Government was in the process of acquiring advanced equipment to strengthen the capacity of security agencies to track and neutralise criminal elements in real time.
