President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the perpetrators of Sunday’s Plateau State massacre will not go unpunished by any means.
Tinubu also directed the security agencies to immediately apprehend those behind the heinous and brutal attacks, which occurred in Bokkos and Barki-Ladi local government areas of Plateau State.
The president also condemned what he described as the bastardly act that resulted in the tragic loss of many lives.
The toll marked a sharp rise from the initial figure reported by the army Sunday evening of just 16 dead in a region plagued for several years by religious and ethnic tensions.
“As many as 113 persons have been confirmed killed as Saturday hostilities persisted to early hours of Monday,” Monday Kassah, head of the local government in Bokkos, Plateau State, told reporters.
President Tinubu’s directive to the security agencies was made public via a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale which was made available to Africa Today News, New York.
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The statement partly reads, ‘President Tinubu directs security agencies to immediately move in, scour every stretch of the zone, and apprehend the culprits.
‘The President also directs the immediate mobilization of relief resources for surviving victims of the primitive and cruel attacks, as well as medical treatment for the wounded.
‘While condoling with the government and the people of Plateau State, President Tinubu assures Nigerians that these envoys of death, pain, and sorrow will not escape justice.’
A provisional toll by the local Red Cross reported 104 deaths in 18 villages in the Bokkos region.
At least 50 people were also reported dead in several villages in the Barkin Ladi area, according to Dickson Chollom, a member of the state parliament.
He condemned the attacks and called on the security forces to act swiftly.