The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari could not eat food on the day of Jos attack.
At least 25 Muslim travellers were hacked to death by suspected Christian militia at Rukuba, Jos while returning from a religious gathering organised by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi in Bauchi.
In a special visit to convey the president’s condolences, the minister told the cleric that Mr Buhari was saddened by the killings such that he could not eat food.
The president had since directed that the perpetrators of the attack be fished out and prosecuted.
He spoke with top military brass on the issue. He had just returned from a journey, and as matter of fact the president could not even eat food,” Mr Pantami added.
Recall that the president had described it as a prearranged attack on Muslims travellers.
“It is widely known that Plateau State has been one of the states affected by herder-farmer clashes, which have, in a significant way, been curtailed following the intense peace-building efforts of the administration of Governor Simon Lalong,” the president said in a statement by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu.
However, to be clear, this is not an agriculturalist-on-pastoralist confrontation – but rather a direct, brazen and wickedly motivated attack on members of a community exercising their rights to travel freely and to follow the faith of their choosing.
“With the evident preparedness of their attackers, it is clear this was a well-conceived and prearranged assault on a known target, location and religious persuasion of the travellers not an opportunist ambush.
“The Presidency offers condolences to the families of the victims and continues to liaise closely with the local authorities – including security, the police, and governmental agencies.
These kinds of attacks on our country’s citizens are unacceptable, heinous, and stand in complete contradiction to the teachings of the great religions of our nation.
The Presidency stands steadfast with both Christians and Muslims at this time in condemnation of this latest attack and expects and insists that justice is swiftly – but fairly – delivered to the perpetrators.
“Make no mistake about it: in line with my commitment to protect all Nigerians, I have ordered our security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of this gruesome massacre of innocent travellers and bring them to justice.
“As the facts of the sad incident continue to unfold, the Presidency commends the ongoing efforts by the Governors of Plateau, Bauchi, and Ondo; the Sultan of Sokoto His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar III and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi as well as a number of notable Christian and Muslim leaders as they intensify efforts to calm down the situation.”