According to reports from Daily Post, “the Plateau Police Command has confirmed that as a result of the skirmishes that took place on Saturday morning at Rukuba.
The Command also said 21 persons were rescued from the scene of the incident.
This was disclosed by the Spokesman of the Command, ASP Gabriel Ogaba, in Jos, the State Capital.
Ogaba said, “On 14th August 2021 at about 09:28 hours, the Plateau State Police Command received a distress call that a group of attackers suspected to be Irigwe youths and their sympathisers along Rukuba Road of Jos North LGA attacked a convoy of five buses with Muslim faithful who were coming back from the Annual Zikr prayer in Bauchi State and heading to Ikare in Ondo State.
“Unfortunately, 22 persons were killed and Fourteen injured in the attack.”
Massacre of Muslims at Rukuba, Jos: Christian Terrorists Must Be Rounded Up – MURIC
According to him, “Upon receipt of the report, a team of Police personnel, the military and other sister agencies were immediately mobilised to the scene where 21 victims were rescued and six suspects arrested.
“The Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, CP Edward Egbuka, along with the GOC 3-Division, Major General Ibrahim Ali, also visited the scene and ordered for a discreet investigation to fish out other perpetrators of this barbaric act at large”, he explained.
He, however, said normalcy has returned to the area.
“The CP warned that those that perpetrated this dastardly act and others that incited it will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
The Command urges the public to remain calm and to furnish the Police with useful information that will aid the investigation.”
MPAC strongly condemns these massacres of innocent Muslims who were going about their religious activities. Those who have committed this heinous crime have gone beyond the basic principles of humanity. There is no cause that can justify these senseless killings of the innocent based on religious differences. This perverted mindset that sheds blood without regard to any human is a common threat to all Nigerians, and together, we must confront and challenge it.
The type of senseless violence that continues to plague the nation requires those prosecuting the war against terrorism to not only intensify the fight against Boko Haram and all groups involved in terrorism/insurgency/kidnapping, but as a matter of necessity, they must change their tactics in order to be more effective and proactive.
The Plateau remains the hotbed of religious and tribal clashes, but these crises are a security challenge that directly affects all parts of the country. As thousands of Nigerians are at the risk of losing their lives to the unrelenting terrorist and Islamophobic attacks, this is no time for those in government and the Service Chiefs to be complacent. We urge the government to become more proactive and put the necessary measures and policies in place to protect the lives of its citizens.
Condolences to the families of the victims and the entire communities affected. May Allah heal the wounded and grant the dead the status of martyrs.
MPAC, Nigeria.
