*Nigerians Must Not Get Used To Killings, Says Northern Christians
FIVE persons, including a Police officer, have been killed in separate attacks in Barkin Ladi and Mangu Local Councils of Plateau State, despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on the affected areas by Governor Caleb Muftwang.
The state Police Command spokesman, Alfred Alabo, who confirmed the death of a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) and three civilians in separate attacks on security operatives attached to Operation Rainbow on Tuesday night, September 22, in Barkin Ladi.
Alabo added that one of the security personnel was killed along Gagshi Road, between Barkin Ladi and Bokkos, while three civilians were also killed in a separate attack at Rakok, also known as Kafi Abu, in Barkin Ladi.
He said investigations were ongoing to unravel the perpetrators of the attack and ensure justice is served.
In Mangu, the Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM) said three men, aged between 35 and 50, were killed while keeping watch over their community when they were ambushed by armed attackers at the Kyikyau Community boundary with Gyambwas in Mangu Halle District on Tuesday night about 7:39p.m. during the curfew period.
In a related development, the Berom Youth Moulders Association also reported the killing of a 22-year-old man during attacks on Rakwok, Bet, Razat, Gassa and Rakung communities in Barkin Ladi on Monday night, including a husband and father of two.
Meanwhile, the Northern Christian Association (NCA) has condemned the killings, warning that Nigerians must not become so used to violence that deaths of innocent citizens are treated as ordinary occurrences.
It stressed that the latest attacks underscored the need for the government and security agencies to move beyond reactive measures and prevent attacks before they occur.
The NCA Chairman, Joseph Hayab, in a statement in Kaduna on Tuesday, expressed concern over the recurring violence in the state and its devastating impact on families, communities and livelihoods, saying every life lost represents a human tragedy that should command the attention of the government and Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political differences.
Hayab said: “Is that how lives have become so cheap that they can now be taken at will?
“Nigerians must not get used to killings. Every life matters. We cannot continue to wake up to reports of innocent people being killed and gradually accept such incidents as part of our normal existence.”
He stated that the frequency of attacks should not diminish Nigerians’ sense of compassion, as every victim left behind relatives, friends and communities that continued to bear the consequences of the violence.
While commending the Federal and Plateau State Governments, as well as security personnel, for their efforts, Hayab urged the authorities to urgently review the security situation in vulnerable communities and strengthen measures to identify and neutralise threats before they result in attacks.
The clergyman argued that while increased deployment of security personnel could provide temporary reassurance, the long-term solution requires a security system capable of detecting threats early, acting on credible intelligence and preventing attackers from reaching vulnerable communities.
Hayab urged closer collaboration between security agencies and local residents, describing communities as critical partners in the fight against insecurity.
He added: “Residents are often the first to notice unusual movements, suspicious activities and emerging threats in their communities.
“Such information could help security agencies prevent attacks if reliable channels are created for reporting intelligence and appropriate action is taken promptly.”
NCA urged security agencies to thoroughly investigate the attacks and ensure that those responsible were arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
He noted that the recurring attacks should remind authorities that the protection of citizens should not be measured only by the response after an incident, but also by the ability of security agencies to anticipate threats, prevent attacks and protect vulnerable communities.
