Jos killings: Only justice can stop reprisals – MURIC

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has demanded stiff punishment according to the nation’s law for the killing of 32 Muslim travellers on Saturday in Plateau State, saying that swift and effective justice was needed to stop reprisals.

Seven people were killed on Sunday in Jos North council area of Plateau in circumstances police believe are connected to the attack on Saturday on travellers around Gada-biu-Rukuba Road in Jos.

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The MURIC Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, in a statement on Tuesday, described the attack as wicked, callous and animalistic.

“However, we are of the opinion that killing with impunity will not stop unless justice is swiftly and effectively served. A situation where every brutal killing is anchored on a previous attack is Bohemian and unacceptable. It smirks of a society whose norms, values and law enforcement machinery has totally broken down.

“This cycle of reprisal killings can be traced back to the Zango-Kataf crisis of 1992. Subsequent killings would have been averted if the reports and recommendations of the Okadigbo panel had been implemented. Criminal elements continue to hide under the canopies of religion and ethnicity to unleash mayhem on innocent people because of the laxity in the system,” he said.

He said what was needed is systemic change and that state governments must stop providing cover for criminals, but apply the provisions of the law on the matter.

Akintola said, “We, therefore, reiterate our demand that the investigations into this latest massacre must be handled by the Federal Government. For this reason, we commend the strong intervention of the Inspector General of Police and the Nigerian Army in the restoration of normalcy in Jos and its environs. We warn that the state governor should not be allowed to interfere with the course of justice.

“We must think humanity first, not our faith or tribe. Life is sacred and no human being, nay, no single Nigerian citizen, deserves to die a miserable death. We must remember that every criminal activity carried out by us inevitably renders our loved ones prone to similar or even worse attacks. Let us all eschew violence against others in order to prevent attacks against people that are dear to us.”