BAPTIST CHURCH LOSS 37 MEMBERS IN RECENT PLATEAU POGROM

Rev. Dr Saleh (m) reading the text of the press conference this afternoon

BAPTIST CHURCH LOSS 37 MEMBERS IN RECENT PLATEAU POGROM

By Joseph A. Adudu

July 14, 2018

37 members of the Baptist Church were among the over 200 people brutally killed in the recent Plateau carnage by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

This was disclosed by Rev. Dr. Koeleh Kyenvel Saleh, President, Plateau Baptist Conference during a press conference in Jos today.

The Church observed that the recent attacks on the Plateau Christians without provocation have caused losses rolling into several lives and properties which cannot be easily qualified in monetary terms adding that the ugly development was grieving because generations were being wiped out by the attackers.

It further stated “The Baptist Church on the Plateau strongly condemn the recent unproved attacks by persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen militia on innocent communities in some parts of Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bassa and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau State which led to wanton destruction of properties and loss of lives of over 200 people including women, pregnant mothers and children.

“We strongly state that there is no justification whatsoever that should warrant such inhuman atrocity against humanity. Whereas we acknowledge the prompt visitation of both the Vice President Professor Yemi Osibanjo which was followed by that of President and Commander-in chief of the Arm Forces Muhammadu Buhari on the second day, we wish to state that such visits could have been worth the while if it was a proactive response”.

The church said that the painful memory of what happened in Salama Baptist Church Ancha in Bassa Local Government Area where its members were massacred in cold blood was still fresh in its mind but the so called “unknown” gun men were still allowed to perpetrate the murderous acts with impurity.

Cross section of Baptist Clergymen at the event

The Baptist convention further observed that the repeated stance that the identity of the attackers remained unknown was an indictment on both those that have sworn by the oath of office to protect lives and property of the citizens as well as the present security architecture of the nation stressing that the repeated excuses raise several doubts on the competence of those in charge of the security institutions.

Consequently, the church stated as follows:

· That the Federal Government should as a matter of urgent importance heed the clarion call to restructure the present security composition which 99% of the security chiefs is a representation of one religious group. This is unacceptable in a multi religious society as it is tantamount to breeding mistrust and compromise as being presently being witnessed.

· That the recent action being taken by the National House of Assembly to review the constitution to make way for the creation of State Police is the best interest of vulnerable States. We urged that this legislative process be given due diligence and should be granted presidential ascent without delay.

· That the discordant narratives regarding the Plateau carnage which is being projected in some quarters as a crisis between Berom and Fulani herdsmen or farmers versus herdsmen conflict is a deliberate attempt to undermine the magnitude of the attacks on the Plateau as the casualty report cuts across different tribes on the Plateau. It can never also be said to be a clash between farmers and herdsmen as the gruesome act was neither perpetrated on farmlands nor grazing fields but on defenseless communities, some of whom were murdered in their sleep.

· That the narrative that the attack was politically sponsored is another deliberate attempt by those who also seek to trivialize the reality and gravity of our predicament by giving it such a cheap political coloration since the deaths and destructions that were incurred cut across party lines. Moreover, there is no record of any party ward secretariat or property that was destroyed or burnt to warrant such contemplation.

· That the narrative that the attack was carried out by unknown gun men is a further attempt to insult the sensibility of all the victims of this carnage as well as Plateau people in general because upon the visit of the president to Plateau State, during the stake holders’ forum which was held in government house over the heinous attack, one person each from the Berom people’s group and a representative of the Miyetti Allah was asked to make their presentations. The fact that a representative of Miyetti Allah spoke that day and attributed the cause of the attack to cow being allegedly rustled by the natives, it is foolhardy to still call the recent attack on the Plateau as an act perpetrated by unknown gun men. In intelligence parlance, the attack comment of the Miyyeti Allah representative before the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari calls for probe as it gives clue to who the attackers were

Cross section of Journalists

· For us, the incessant attacks on communities on the Plateau amount to an invasion by Fulani herdsmen on a mission to displace natives of their ancestral lands so as to occupy them. On this note, we stand with the State Governor Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong who categorically stated that land grabbing will not be allowed. We however, implored the State government to match its words with action by ensuring that maximum security is put in place immediately so that farmers can return to their ancestral lands and farms.

· We also observed that the burning down of Churches and pastorium by these same attackers was deliberate act to exterminate Christianity. We however, commend the restraints of the Christian faithful for not responding to this deliberate provocation as there is no record of any mosque that was destroyed or burnt in the face of this provocation. We however demand that the government should as a matter of urgent importance undertake the rebuilding of these worship places so to erase this pigment of provocation in view of its sensitive nature.

We also acknowledge the effort of the State Government in seeking ways to mitigating the effect of the attacks by the recent decision to build a trauma hospital in Riyom axis
The press conference was one of the high points for the 12th joint ordination service for thirteen of the Church's ministers into full gospel ministry held at the Baptist Church, Adebayo street Jos.