THE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the recent killings in Plateau state that claimed about 200 lives including children and parents noting that unlawful killings of human beings are becoming a common incident in the country with no value placed any longer on lives.
In a statement made to the newsmen on Friday in Abuja which was signed by NANS Senate President, Comrade Taiwo Bamigbade, the association frowned at the ugly situation and urged the government to urgently arrest the situation which it said was escalating beyond control.
The statement reads, “NANS hereby condemns in totality the unceasing brutal killings of innocent citizens including children, students and parents by suspected herdsmen in various parts of the country for selfish reasons”.
“Again, we state categorically that it is aberrational that since the heinous attacks began, no meaningful arrests and prosecutions have been recorded except to console the victims which is the height of injustice and insensitivity. To see helpless and innocent children and their parents massacred in cold bloods as seen in Plateau state during the weekend is wicked and great evil in the sight of God or Allah”, Bamigbade said.
“We therefore call on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari to do whatever it takes to ensure that lives and properties are secured which is the primary purpose of government. Whilst the procurement of fighter-helicopter towards curtailing the menace is highly commendable as a proactive action, we urge the president to rejig the security apparatus of the country for better results”.
The students’ body also demanded for arrests and prosecutions of the perpetrators of the evil deeds.
“Nonetheless, the perpetrators of the genocide and their sponsors must be brought to book according to the laws of the land irrespective of their ethnic, religious group or positions in the society. To willfully plot, aid, abet or actively waste human lives cannot be justified in any way irrespective of the cause(s)”.
NANS Senate President further enjoined members of the public to always report any communal disputes and disagreements to the security agency for proactive actions.
“On the other hand, we call on all citizens to desist from hate speeches or playing politics to the extreme, and essentially to report any community disputes to the Police rather than taking laws into their hands which may always lead to retaliatory attacks involving human lives. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!” Bamigbade said.