Press Release
The Middle Belt Journalists Forum, MBJF, has called for restraint from making inflammatory comments on the latest crisis in Jos Plateau state where scores were killed.
The forum has also cautioned its members from allowing their media platforms to be used in conveying messages of destruction.Arising from an assessment meeting of the Jos latest killings in Abuja, the MBJF condemned in strong terms, any killings of human beings irrespective of ethics, race or religion and any other reasons.“At this point, we will repeat the plea that, instead of propaganda and counter propaganda, it’s better to have an honest thorough investigation to all the allegations.
In a statement jointly signed by the Forum’s National President, Hon. Jonathan Ipaa, JP, and ite National Secretary, Mrs Oikeke Igado-Kure, reads,
“We pray that such investigations will truly unravel the root cause of the breakdown of peace and harmony in Plateau and the Middle Belt in general.
“Nobody should be afraid of the truth regardless of where the truth falls.
The Middle Belt Journalists Forum suggests that a multi stakeholder group of representatives of all the diverse groups to be invited by the authorities to look into the root causes of the insecurity challenges
“However, the Middle Belt Journalists took an exception to the ethnic profiling on criminal acts, as contained in the Police’ first statement on the issue last Saturday.
“The Plateau state police command, had alleged even before investigation, that the Irigwe youths, may have been responsible for the Saturday’s killings but failed short to disclose the identity of the killers of the previous eighty persons recorded.
“Accordingly, some media reports that have lifted up the sentiment thus profiling the Irigwe community who has lost over eighty persons from similar circumstances as masterminds.
Recall that the Middle Belt Journalists Forum had petitioned concerned authorities to act decisively to prevent the escalation of the crisis when eighty persons (80) were reportedly massacred within four days.
“We appeal to the authorities to be swift, decisive and thorough on their investigation to serve as deterrent to further killings of innocent people.
“We call on the Federal Government to avoid sentiment, chase criminals out of the Middle Belt areas imparticular and Nigeria in general.To those flying religious kites, we reaffirm our committment to both religions which are espoused by indigenes of the Middle Belt who have coexisted seamlessly with themselves and visitors and residents of all faiths by respecting each others’ religion.
“We appeal to the security agencies to be even handed in dealing with both incidents in that axis of Plateau State in particular and in all other places in Nigeria”.
Nasarawa Reporters 