Simon Lalong, Plateau state Governor has ordered the arrest of all Fulani traditional leaders after a fresh attack in which 15 persons were killed.
Barely two weeks after 12 persons were brutally killed by unknown gunmen in Kunben village in Mangu local government area of the state, there has been another mass killing where 15 persons have been murdered in cold blood in Kwatas village in Bokkos local government area of the state.
Lalong who believes Fulani leaders have information on the suspected killers, has since ordered their arrest. He said his administration will no longer condone the unlawful killings of innocent citizens.
“I have changed, it is no longer business as usual, people cannot continue to die and we do nothing about it. Arrest all Ardos-Fulani leaders, community heads until they produce the killers,” he said.
“How can they say that people are killed and there is no arrest? Are those killing others spirits? I don’t think you can kill 15 human beings and claim you are spirit and there is no arrest.
“All community leaders should be in cell. Arrest them now, nobody is above the law. If they don’t produce the killers keep them in cell. Nobody has immunity except me and the Deputy Governor. This is my charge today, that all Ardos in the affected communities must be in cell.”
He lamented over the alarming death toll in the state, disclosing that security agents were yet to make a headway in their investigation.
“Since I have been in the state since February, no event of this magnitude has happened. We have been investigating the incident in Mangun and then this. We cannot continue in this situation in the state,” he said.
“The security agencies have resolved that those people killing must be arrested no matter how highly placed. Peace must return to this state as we cannot continue in this situation.”
“They should not sleep in their houses. By the time they are arrested, we will solve this problem.”
