Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) and the Jama’atu Nasirl Islam (JNI) has asked the Federal Government and Army authorities to fish out and prosecute those involved in the disappearance of Major General I.M Alkali and other Muslims passersby in Du, Plateau State.
Secretary Generals, SCSN and JNI, Nafi’u Baba Ahmed and Khalid Abubakar Aliyu respectively in separate press conferences in Kaduna yesterday further called on the government to as a matter of reconciliation and fairness, set up a commission of inquiry over the remote cause(s) and proffer far reaching solutions and implement them on the unfortunate reoccurrences of crisis on the Plateau.
The Muslim bodies said the atrocities being committed along that route against innocent Nigerians travelers must end saying, “It is sad that the atrocities have been allowed to go on for so long until an Army General was murdered that the authorities woke up to take action.”
According to SCSN, “The highly biased conventional Nigerian media have lost their appetite for sensational headlines and deceptive leads, with the exception of only few ever since the army discovered the murder ponds and there no word from Christian leaders at all levels condemning the atrocities even in principles.
“Imagine if these deadly ponds were found in a Muslims community by now, dispatches with claims of ethnic cum religious cleansing would have woken up the United Nations, and the hypocritical media would have been hyperactive in sensational reporting.”
He called on the government to take forensic tests of all the bodies recovered from the ponds so they could be identified for proper funeral and compensations to their families.
Similarly, JNI tasked the government to go beyond mere condemnation of incidences of this magnitude but should be seen to act swiftly in restoring law and order, especially in legendary troubled areas.
“We call on Government and the Nigerian Army not to be deterred on the professional search for Major General I. M. Alkali and whosoever is found wanting on his abduction and/or murder should be dealt with, within the confine of the rule of law. Hence, the Nigerian Army is strongly called upon to continue to investigate the matter and we call on the people of Plateau state to cooperate accordingly.
“Equally, government should decisively act against some prominent ethnic chauvinists and religious bigots who are working hands in gloves in fanning the embers of ethno-religious polarisation in the state, as well as in Nigeria.”
JNI further urged the government to be more proactive in saving the lives and property of innocent Nigerians adding, “All ponds in Lafendeng, Dura Du District, and/or human abattoirs within Riyom, Heipang and Kassa in Barikin Ladi axis should be uncovered, including their criminal hideouts, as Nigeria and Nigerians would be shocked over the startling revelations that would come out of the exercise.”
While calling on Muslims particularly those residing on the Plateau should be steadfast with supplications, he called for the involvement of committed experts of Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) to mop-up arms from all and sundry on the Plateau and treat as criminals anyone found with arms.
JNI however called on security agencies to shun all forms of biases and discriminations in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities and urged Nigerian media to always imbibe the culture of investigative journalism and balanced reportage of events, most especially on religious matters.
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