From Asile Emmanuel, Jos
Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has submitted that President Muhammadu Buhari should consider changing his security chiefs in the wake of endless killings of Nigerians across several states, which the security henchmen appear unable to handle effectively.
The NGF made the submission during a visit to Plateau State to commiserate with Governor Simon Lalong and the Plateau people over the recent killings in the state in which claimed more than 200 lives were lost.
The forum also presented an undisclosed sum of money to Lalong to assist the internally displaced persons in the state.
The forum’s Chairman and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, spoke on behalf of others during the visit. He was accompanied by the governors of Delta, Imo, Nassarawa, Sokoto, Benue, Bauchi and deputy Governors of Akwa Ibom, Edo, Oyo and Ondo.
Yari said: “At the last meeting, we discussed issue of insecurity extensively as it is happening in almost every state. We condemn what happened in Plateau State and other states; we are looking at how to fight on a common front to defeat the challenges seeking to undermine the Nigeria state.
“Between March and June in my state, we had 115 incidents and 435 people lost their lives. Our people are suffering. Within two hours, 235 people were killed, 80 found in one place. In Plateau State since 2012, this is the largest. These people must be brought to book because people have taken things for granted for too long because no one was brought to book, this must change.
“I have done my best, so have my colleagues. The unfortunate thing is that the security forces are never there until the deed has been done. We must do something as leaders or else our people may turn against us. We will have a day interface with the Security Chiefs to make them understand our plights and sit up or we will have no option but to ask the President to drop them.”
Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura who arrived the Little Rayfield Government House with traditional rulers from his state on the condolence visit, said: “We know that the burden of this challenge is so overwhelming on you and the government of Plateau state, we as your neighbours would also come to your support and assistance with the donation of N10 million.
“We are here as your brothers and sisters and as people that share identical antecedents with the people of Plateau state. We are aggrieved; we are overwhelmed and completely downcast with what has happened in the past few days. It is a pity that while you were doing all you could to ensure sustainability of peace and security which has been working since you came to office, this kind of misfortune happened.”
Governor Lalong thanked the government and people of Nasarawa State and noted that, “in every state, when you have good people you also have pockets of bad people which led to the killing of innocent lives. Whoever has done this and thinks he has escaped, he has not escaped before God. One day God will expose them.”
The governor also said those who think they are above the law will be made to face the law adding that, “I have told the people of Plateau state to be patient and cooperate with us, we will unveil those behind this crisis.”
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