Attack In Jos On Travellers Well-Conceived, Prearranged — Presidency

The Presidency has condemned the attack Saturday on travellers
passing through Jos, the Plateau State Capital, saying that the
incident was a well-conceived and prearranged assault on a known
target.

This assertion was contained in a statement issued by Garba
Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media &
Publicity) in which the presidency stated that the location and
religious persuasion of the victims showed that it was not an
opportunist ambush.

While it regretted the reported deaths of at least 22 persons
with several others injured in that ambush on their travelling
party, the statement added: “It is widely known that Plateau State
has been one of the states affected by herder-farmer clashes, which
have, in a significant way, been curtailed following the intense
peace-building efforts of the administration of Governor Simon
Lalong.

“However, to be clear, this is not an
agriculturalist-on-pastoralist confrontation – but rather a direct,
brazen and wickedly motivated attack on members of a community
exercising their rights to travel freely and to follow the faith of
their choosing.

“With the evident preparedness of their attackers, it is clear
this was a well-conceived and prearranged assault on a known
target, location and religious persuasion of the travellers not an
opportunist ambush.

“The Presidency offers condolences to the families of the
victims and continues to liaise closely with the local authorities
– including security, the police, and governmental agencies.

“These kinds of attacks on our country’s citizens are
unacceptable, heinous, and stand in complete contradiction to the
teachings of the great religions of our nation.

“The Presidency stands steadfast with both Christians and
Muslims at this time in condemnation of this latest attack and
expects and insists that justice is swiftly – but fairly –
delivered to the perpetrators.

The statement quoted President Muhammadu Buhari as saying: “Make
no mistake about it: in line with my commitment to protect all
Nigerians, I have ordered our security agencies to fish out the
perpetrators of this gruesome massacre of innocent travellers and
bring them to justice.”

It added: “As the facts of the sad incident continue to unfold,
the Presidency commends the ongoing efforts by the Governors of
Plateau, Bauchi, and Ondo; the Sultan of Sokoto His Eminence Sa’ad
Abubakar III and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi as well as a number of
notable Christian and Muslim leaders as they intensify efforts to
calm down the situation.”

The Presidency has condemned the attack Saturday on travellers
passing through Jos, the Plateau State Capital, saying that the
incident was a well-conceived and prearranged assault on a known
target.

This assertion was contained in a statement issued by Garba
Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media &
Publicity) in which the presidency stated that the location and
religious persuasion of the victims showed that it was not an
opportunist ambush.

While it regretted the reported deaths of at least 22 persons
with several others injured in that ambush on their travelling
party, the statement added: “It is widely known that Plateau State
has been one of the states affected by herder-farmer clashes, which
have, in a significant way, been curtailed following the intense
peace-building efforts of the administration of Governor Simon
Lalong.

“However, to be clear, this is not an
agriculturalist-on-pastoralist confrontation – but rather a direct,
brazen and wickedly motivated attack on members of a community
exercising their rights to travel freely and to follow the faith of
their choosing.

“With the evident preparedness of their attackers, it is clear
this was a well-conceived and prearranged assault on a known
target, location and religious persuasion of the travellers not an
opportunist ambush.

“The Presidency offers condolences to the families of the
victims and continues to liaise closely with the local authorities
– including security, the police, and governmental agencies.

“These kinds of attacks on our country’s citizens are
unacceptable, heinous, and stand in complete contradiction to the
teachings of the great religions of our nation.

“The Presidency stands steadfast with both Christians and
Muslims at this time in condemnation of this latest attack and
expects and insists that justice is swiftly – but fairly –
delivered to the perpetrators.

The statement quoted President Muhammadu Buhari as saying: “Make
no mistake about it: in line with my commitment to protect all
Nigerians, I have ordered our security agencies to fish out the
perpetrators of this gruesome massacre of innocent travellers and
bring them to justice.”

It added: “As the facts of the sad incident continue to unfold,
the Presidency commends the ongoing efforts by the Governors of
Plateau, Bauchi, and Ondo; the Sultan of Sokoto His Eminence Sa’ad
Abubakar III and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi as well as a number of
notable Christian and Muslim leaders as they intensify efforts to
calm down the situation.”