Police Threaten to Arrest Monarchs in Connection with Recent Deadly Attacks in Plateau

The Plateau police command threatened to arrest traditional and tribal leaders in the state whose domains continued to record attacks by unknown gunmen.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Chris Olakpe, informed about it in Jos at a stakeholders’ meeting with various tribes in Plateau North Senatorial zone on November 27, 2013, Wednesday.

The CP debunked the claims by the leaders that the attacks were carried out by unknown gunmen. He said that the police had resolved to arrest the leaders as accomplices because as custodian of the society no crime would happen without their knowledge.

“The command hereby gives the Berom and Fulani traditional leaders in Barkin Ladi seven days within which to produce the perpetrators of the recent killings.

“The Berom leaders must produce the 120 cows rustled and those that killed the three Fulani boys while grazing cows in Foron village.

“The Fulani leaders should also produce those behind the killing of over 300 people in Hypang area of Barking Ladi Local Government recently.”

Mr. Olakpe further noted that after the expiration of the seven days and the criminals were not produced, the traditional rulers would be arrested and charged to court.

The CP condemned the situation where the traditional rulers and the parents had failed to expose the perpetrators of the nefarious acts in the area.

He expressed concern that youths in the area were no longer under parental control and advised the parents to always guide their children so that peace would return to the area.

“Any youth that commits any offence within their domain should be reported to the police or soldiers for possible arrest and prosecution.

“Any parent or guardian whose ward is involved in any criminal activity and he fails to report to the police will be arrested as an accomplice,” the commissioner stated.

The commissioner regretted that women, children and pregnant mothers were worst hit victims of the faceless criminals.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that leaders from the Muslim and Christian sides also pledged to give the police the necessary support.

It would be recalled that at least 37 people have recently lost their lives in multiple attacks by unknown gunmen in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.

(NAN) 

Vanguard