By Kazeem Ugbodaga
President Bola Tinubu has strongly condemned the brutal killing of 12 travellers in Plateau State, describing the act as “barbaric, unacceptable, and a grave affront to national peace and security.”
The victims, reportedly returning from a wedding ceremony in Zaria, Kaduna State, were ambushed and lynched en route to Jos, Plateau State.
Among the dead were the father and brother of the groom, while several others sustained serious injuries in the horrific attack.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu ordered the Nigerian Police Force to urgently coordinate with other security and intelligence agencies to track down and prosecute those responsible.
“The Government of Plateau State must take decisive action in handling these vicious cycles of violence. It must collaborate with security agents to get to the root of this recent incident and ensure it serves as a deterrent against future occurrences,” the President stated.
He affirmed that the freedom of movement of Nigerian citizens remains non-negotiable, warning that no individual or group would be allowed to impose fear and terror through criminal acts.
“We will not tolerate any attempt by anyone or group of people to curtail that fundamental freedom through acts of extreme violence and fear,” he said.
While calling for calm and restraint, President Tinubu extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the governments and people of Kaduna and Plateau States.
He assured Nigerians that this “dastardly act will not go unpunished,” vowing that justice would be served to bring closure to the grieving families and restore confidence in the rule of law.
The President’s directive signals a renewed push for firm, coordinated security enforcement in volatile regions, amid ongoing concerns over communal violence and reprisal killings in parts of the North Central.
