President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the current attacks on the people of Kona in Taraba State, and ordered security forces to end the violence immediately and decisively.
The President, in a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President, (Media & Publicity), warned that attacks on innocent people in the name of revenge or whatever motives would not be tolerated by the government.
Also, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Taraba Chapter, on Wednesday condemned the lingering violence in Taraba and other parts of the country, and urged stringent measures to save the nation from descending into anarchy.
Rev. Innocent Solomon, the state CAN Chairman, in a speech at a reception to honour of Rev Caleb Ahima, who was elected National Vice President of CAN on Tuesday in Abuja, appealed to the Police, the Army and other security agencies to bring the perpetrators of the Taraba crisis to justice.
While condemning the burning of places of worship and missionary institutions during the violence, Solomon urged Taraba residents to eschew violence and embrace peace for a peaceful Nigeria.
“No tribe or religion should encourage violence. There must be mutual respect among the residents because no one is superior to the other.
“We want those in leadership positions to use their powers correctly, righteousness and fairly, and ensure that justice, which is the fundamental principle of governance, is adhered to.
“Justice must be served on those who are executing a genocide in Nigeria against ordinary and law abiding citizens, especially in northern Nigeria,” he said.
The CAN Chairman, who sympathised with the victims of the Taraba crisis, also congratulated Rev Samson Ayokunle and Caleb Ahima on their victories at the CAN elections where they emerged as President and Vice President respectively.
In his remarks, Ahima said that Nigeria was passing through difficult times, and urged the Church to pray hard and remain united to save Nigeria from her numerous challenges.
He said that Nigeria could only grow and be strong if justice, fairness and equity prevailed.
“For Nigeria to attain its potential, there must be justice and equity for all. We must all be seen and treated as equal stakeholders,” he said.
According to President Buhari, “No group of people has the right to surround innocent people and unleash murderous violence on them.”
He said resorting to self-help is an invitation to anarchy which in turn will make everyone unsafe.
President Buhari noted that in a cycle of violence characterised by revenge and counter-revenge, there are no winners.
The President said that in a state of permanent hostilities, people undermine not only law and order, but also their own ability to conduct their everyday businesses in peace.
“I always wonder how people can conduct their businesses in the absence of peace and tranquillity because violence ruins everything and leaves the people worse off,” he stressed.
According to President Buhari, “It is difficult to build a virile nation where hate and intolerance dominate the people’s minds. It’s easier to destroy than to build. People should count the economic costs of this violence to their own lives.”
The President warned that a situation where community leaders abandon their responsibilities and allow thugs to set the agenda is dangerous for peace and security in the country.
He criticised leaders who publicly preach the virtues of peace, but privately promote hate and intolerance which ultimately culminate in violent destruction of life and property.
