The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has issued a strong condemnation of the recent killings of Muslim travelers in Plateau State, while also criticizing the state governor's response to the incident.
According to reports, the victims were traveling to attend a wedding when they were attacked. Professor Ishaq Akintola, Founder and Executive Director of MURIC, described the attack as "most horrendous, totally egregious and categorically preposterous" in a statement released on Sunday.
The organization took particular issue with Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang's explanation of the incident, which MURIC characterized as an "unapologetic apology." According to the statement, the governor had claimed that the killings occurred because the Muslim travelers "lost their way and inadvertently ran into a tense and volatile situation in Mangun, a community grappling with sustained terrorist attacks."
MURIC rejected this explanation, stating that the governor was attempting to "obfuscate the gravity of the offence under atmospheric volatility." The organization further expressed concern about what it described as a pattern of attacks against Muslim travelers in the region.
"This zone has become a killing ground particularly for Muslim travellers. Unfortunately, the rampaging youth have also become unrepentant in their killing sprees going by other attacks on Muslims carried out by them in the past," the statement read.
The organization extended condolences to the families of the deceased and called for justice for the victims.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the murdered travelers from Kaduna have been buried in Plateau amid tight security, while northern governors have condemned the killings and warned against reprisal attacks.
The Nigerian Army has also reportedly stated that they are "going after killers in Benue, Plateau, and other affected areas" in response to the rising insecurity in the region.
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