The Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District, Istifanus Gyang, on Sunday, said the peace of Nigeria as a country has been severely threatened by myriad of security challenges that have continued to bedeviled the nation.
He equally said if the federal government had responded appropriately to the security alarm raised by Plateau State some years ago, without allowing “sentiments and prejudice” to determine its response, most of the security challenges bedeviling the country “would have been tackled from Plateau and it would have not spread to other parts of Nigeria”.
Gyang flanked by other lawmakers from Plateau North disclosed this while speaking at the Remembrance Service held at Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) LCC, Anguldi, Jos South LGA of Plateau State for victims of June 23, 2018, attacks in Barkin Ladi LGA, where over 200 persons were murdered by assailants suspected to be herdsmen.
Similar remembrance services are being held in all IDPs camps housing displaced persons from Gashish and also in all churches in the district.
Gyang said, “We are here today to appreciate God, to say to God, thank you; in spite of the very horrendous and very painful developments that have happened in this land for over two decades.
“For over twenty years, this land has been witnessing all form of attacks; but the miracle of this land is that there are people still leaving in it.
“Given what has happened in this land that in one day over 500 people will be killed, in another day over 200 killed, also in a day over 100; not to talk of those lesser numbers which happens day in, day out”, he lamented.
He added that the killings in the zone have not spared the low or high in the society, recalling that a Senator and Member of the State House of Assembly, Gyang Dantong and Hon. Gyang Fulani were also affected.
The senator maintained that he and his colleagues are in attendance of the Thanksgiving because the Bible says “in all situation” there should be thanksgiving.
“We that are standing before you have a responsibility, our responsibility is to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of this country.
“If there is anything that has challenged this country, is that the peace of this country has been severely threatened; and if there is anywhere that you have that experience, it is in Plateau State,” he said.
According to Gyang, “While these things were happening in Plateau State, if Nigeria had responded appropriately if we had not allowed sentiments and prejudice to determine the response of the government of Nigeria, the issue would have been tackled from Plateau and it would have not spread to other parts of Nigeria.
“That because Nigeria allowed prejudice and sentiments to dictate the response of government to the cries of vulnerable communities; today no part of the country, especially in the north, is spared from this evil.”
