Youths in Akoko, under the aegis of Akoko Youth Forum, AYF, has condemned in totality the gruesome murder of 22 innocent persons who are people from Akoko area of Ondo state at Rukuba, Jos where scores were also injured.
The President of the youths group, Ife Ajibuwa in a Communique issued after an emergency meeting in Ikare, described the attack and killings as provocative, senseless and unfortunate massacre on Akoko people.
22 Muslims coming from a religious programme in Bauchi heading to Ikare Akoko in Ondo state had been ambushed in Jos North and massacred by gunmen, injuring 14 others on Saturday.
“It is with a saddened heart that we condole with the family of the victims of the unfortunate incident. May God grant you all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.
Ajibuwa went further by accusing the Federal Government of treating the killers with “kids’ gloves”, and warned that unless they are tamed, it would “now be fire for fire,” adding that “enough is enough.”
“We hereby issue a stern warning to the Federal Government to curtail the nefarious activities of the perpetrators/bandits/unknown gunmen and disarm them rather than giving them protective coverage while they continue to destroy lives.”
Rising from what is called a national emergency meeting in Ikare- Akoko, AYF called on the Federal Government to rise up to its responsibility of protecting the lives of Nigerians and tame the culprits to avoid a major crisis in the nation.
Ajibuwa challenged the federal and state governments to apprehend those responsible for the attack, adding that “Either mistaken identity or not, deliberate killing of another person is illegal and should not be treated with levity.
“Genocide is amongst the gravest crimes against humanity. Plateau is home to millions of Nigerians from all walks of life and I call on all warring groups to lay down their arms, embrace dialogue and the mechanisms put in place by the state government towards peaceful resolution of all issues of conflict in the troubled parts of the state.”
