From Jude Dangwam, Jos

Catholic Bishops in Plateau State have called on the government and security agencies in Plateau State to ensure that perpetrators of the recent carnage in the state are brought to book to avert future occurrences of willful attacks and killings of innocent lives by crisis merchants.

The three Bishops in the state which consist of the Archdiocese of Jos, His Grace Most Rev.

Bishop Dung who read the text on behalf of the three Bishops said the address became necessary after ex-raying the current security challenges which has shaken the peace, stability and unity of the state by casting a dark shadow on the huge investment made in the area of peace building.

“We call on Government to be proactive, responsive and prompt in responding to early warning signals and distress calls of people of the state as more as strategic commitment are explored to fight the evil of killings and destructions.

“Government and security agencies should rise to and face headlong the culture of violence and impunity in the state and ensure that the identity of the perpetrators of violence and merchants of death or whatever they are call are brought to book to avert future occurrences”

The Bishops were of the view that every attacks and identity of perpetrators should be given professional efficiency as demonstrated on the Rukuba road commuters attacked recently.

“The professional efficiency shown by the security agencies during the Rukuba road incident og Saturday August 14, 2021 should be sustained. Because the true identity of the commuters killed uncovered and all attacks given similar attention in tracking down bad elements among residents in the state whenever these dastardly act resurface,” they said.

The Bishops stressed that quality information must be made known to check the false propaganda and distortion of facts that keeps given wrong impression on the state and it’s good people to those outside the state.

They suggested the need for community dialogue by ensuring that an expensive dialogue forum is created and extended among the “Paramount Chiefs, District and Ward Heads, women, youths and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (N.U.R.T.W)” amongst others to continue to share ideas together towards improving on the wellbeing and in furtherance of peaceful and harmonious coexistence in the state.

While commiserating with families who suffered different level of lost in Riyom, Bassa, Barkin-Ladi, Bokkos, Jos North and Jos South LGAs, they appealed to relevant authorities, organizations and spirited individuals to come to aid the affected communities with relief materials to give the victims a sense of belonging and hope again.

The clergymen also directed that masses be held across Archdiocese, Dioceses’ independent missions, parishes, chaplaincies, pastoral area, zones and local churches; and charged faithfuls to observe the prayer for Nigeria in distress as part of efforts by the Church to intervene in the challenges facing the state and the country in general.