The Coalition of Irigwe Professionals for Peace and National Development (CIPPND) has condemned the recent killing of 10 people, and destruction of property in Ta’agbe Community of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Describing the fresh killings as barbaric and provocative, the organization, however, commended the military task force in the state, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) for its swift and timely response, which prevented the attackers from wreaking more havoc.
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The association’s National President, Dr James Chohu, on Monday in a statement, charged Irigwe stakeholders on the urgent need to raise their voices in condemnation of the dastardly act.
The statement frowned at the tendency of Irigwe Development Association to always blame security agencies, especially OPSH, whenever attacks of this nature occurred, urging them to have a change of heart, in the interest of peace and public safety.
Chohu said the military and security agencies have a mandate to protect lives and property in all communities, regretting that such dispositions have the tendency and potential to demoralize operatives who are putting their lives on the front-line, on daily basis.
He said, “We condemn in strong terms the killing of 10 people, and destruction of property in Ta’agbe community of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State, last week, and describe same as not only barbaric, but premeditated, provocative, and reprehensible.”
The National President of Irigwe Professionals also called for collective action among all stakeholders, noting that peace building and advocacy should remain uppermost in the minds of individuals and groups in Plateau State in particular, and the country in general.
He said it is wrong to profile and stereotype ethnic groups whenever crimes are committed.
He said, “Criminal elements exist among all tribes, ethnic groups, and religions in the country, hence the need to see criminality for what it is. We also wish to frown at the action of some of our few leaders from Irigwe Development Association, whose stock-in-trade is to always blame the security agencies especially Operation Safe Haven, whenever there is an attack because of their selfish and parochial reason to stop as this will not take us anywhere.
“We hasten to add that, contrary to the narrative by a few persons, the special taskforce, and security agencies are not our enemies. If anything, they are our saviour after God. This is so because, our enemies would have overrun us without the containment efforts of OPSH, and sister security agencies
“While we charge OPSH to do more in their determined efforts to keep criminal elements away from the state, we must commend them whenever they do well, as in their timely response in this regard.
