PROTEST: Gov Lalong talks tough as govt officials escape death by the whiskers

The governor of Plateau State has reacted to the violent protest at the state Government House on Wednesday, where many government officials took to their heels to escape being lynched by some angry protesters.

The governor described the action of the protesters as “a serious affront to the authority of the state,” saying that the sponsors of the protest that resulted in the destruction of properties have been identified by the government and will “certainly” be made “to account for their unpatriotic conduct.”

Protest in Jos, the state capital, by some angry residents over the weekend massacre of over 100 persons in three local government areas by herdsmen, had started peacefully before eventually turning violent and leading to invasion of the state secretariat and destruction of vehicles and buildings.

The protesters in their numbers had gathered at the Old Airport Junction from where they marched to the Government House. Initially they were denied access to the premises by security operatives, but determined to have their way, some of them climbed the fence, a development that left the security agents with no option than open the gate for them.

The protesters apparently angered by alleged failure of the Plateau State government to receive them, made efforts to descend on the state Director of Peace Building Agency, Joseph Lengmang, who escaped by whiskers as he quickly scampered for safety.

Lengmang, who took to his heels along with other government officials, got the pursuit of their lives as the angry protesters chased after them, trying to ensure they did not escape from the premises.

Unable to stop the fleeing officials, the protesters were said to have resorted to throwing stones at parked cars in the premises and office buildings including those of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief of Staff, Permanent Secretary (Government House) and other top government officials.

The pleas by security agencies and shots into the air to disperse the protesters failed to achieve any meaningful result. They stood their ground and insisted that the governor should come out and address them so that they could express their annoyance over the killings as well as his position on the ranching policy.

The governor as leant was at Jos University Teaching Hospital, where he had gone to visit some of the victims of the attacks when the protesters stormed the Government House.

In a statement later issued on Wednesday night by the Government House Director of Press and Public Affairs, Emmanuel Nanle, Jang condemned the attack by the protesters and threatened to fish and punish all those involved in the act within the confines of the law.

READ ALSO: PLATEAU MASSACRE: Real presidents take decisive action not speeches, Fayose tells Buhari

“The governor finds it regrettable that while government has chosen to recognise the right of its citizens to peacefully assemble and protest within the confines of the law, the conveners of the protest under the joint auspices of the Christian Association of Nigeria (Northern Zone of Plateau State), Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (Plateau State) and Bazata Gospel Team allowed the protest to be hijacked by hoodlums who took advantage of the procession led by these organisations, to destroy government properties and vehicles of civil servants and visitors to the Government House running into millions of naira.

“The governor views this attack on the seat of government as a serious affront to the authority of the state which should not be taken lightly because of the very clear and obvious unpatriotic self serving interest of a few who have chosen to make a mockery of the grief of the victims of the attack in Gashish District and other areas of the Northern Senatorial District.

“Governor Lalong opines that the name of the Church as a moral rectitude should not have been associated in any way with any person or group of persons who would contemplate violence as a show of discontent especially in this period that all godly and peace-loving citizens are sharing in the grief of the bereaved, and calling on God in prayers and sober reflection for healing in the land,” the statement read in part.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now