Gyang Bere, Jos
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo,has challenged Federal and State Governments to identify the immediate and remote causes of violent in Plateau State with a view to address the prevailing security challenges in the country.
Obasanjo said this, on Wednesday, when he paid a condolence visit to the Governor of and people of Plateau State over the killing of over 150 persons in the rural communities of Barkin-Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas of the State last Saturday.
He described the killings as sad and barbaric and urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators with a view to provide justice for the deceased persons.
“This killing is very sad and barbaric, government at all level should carefully identify the immediate and remote causes of the crisis to ensure that it is resolve once and for all.
“The country must build a cohesive security where everybody has a stake. I believe that all human problems have human solutions so government can overcome the security challenges.”
He commiserated with those who lost their loved ones in the sad and bloody attack and the entire people of Plateau state and urged those who are nursing wounds to trust in the Lord who gives life.
Meanwhile, Senate President Bukola Saraki has faulted the security structure in the country and called on Federal Government to review it to overcome the security problems.
Saraki, who was also in Government House Jos for a condolence visit on Governor Simon Lalong, sympathized with government and people of Plateau over the killings of scores of people in the last few days.
Saraki said, “Dmething is wrong unless we want to deceive ourselves. It might not have started today but let us sit down on a roundtable and find a solution to it. Definitely something is not working right and it is upon us and we must collaborate to do it”
He commended the governor’s efforts to stop the killings in the state and advised the Lalong to be fair and just in governing the people saying that God would be on his side to guide him if he does what is right.
The Senate President also advised the governor to feel free to contact the National Assembly leadership if he feels the security agencies need to do more.
He said the National Assembly would partner with relevant government agencies to provide relief materials for the displaced women, children and the aged in the Internally Displaced Camp.
Governor Lalong thanked the former president and the Senate President for coming and agreed that the security architecture needs restructuring for it to be more proactive.
IN the words of Lalong, “I agreed with you that we need a new security architecture because if we allow people to be killed before we look for the reasons that they are killed, it is unfortunate.
“It is better that they must be proactive, know what is coming and take action before it happens.”
The governor added that he was taken aback of what happened because it happened in a very short time.
According to him, before he left for the APC convention, he interacted with security chiefs and community leaders and there was no tension or cause to worry.
He said that shortly after they began to announce results, he was informed that his state was on fire and he immediately left the convention and ran back home.
“We are doing our best to ensure that the crises doesn’t spread to other parts of the state,” he assured.
Governor Lalong said that he went round some hospitals, on Wednesday, to see about 50 of the wounded persons.