The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the renewed violence in Jos, describing it as a tit-for-tat action.

The National Publicity Secretary Arewa of ACF, Emmanuel Yawe, expressed the body’s concerns in a statement in Kaduna on Sunday. While urging the people of Plateau to remain calm, ACF said, ”Religious and traditional leaders must impress on their people to exercise restraint and not take the laws in their hands.”

The northern socio-political group also called on security agencies to take their responsibilities seriously, stating that cases of “breach of the peace as we are witnessing on the Plateau must be investigated speedily,” and the culprits brought to book.

”It is the only way to stop a breakdown of law and order in communities, the state of Plateau itself and the country,” it added.

ACF recalled an attack on more than 20 farms in Miango, Bassa local government area of Plateau last month in which unknown gunmen attacked and destroyed maize farms.

”Governor Simon Lalong, who visited the destroyed farms, was visibly angry and called on security agents to apprehend the criminals. There is no evidence that they have been fished out,” the ACF statement explained. “Then just yesterday (August 14), a convoy of travellers from Bauchi to Ondo state were massacred in Rukuba.”

The ACF added, “Those killed were Muslims which points to the fact that it was a reprisal. Since Simon Lalong assumed duty in 2015, Plateau has been relatively peaceful. We were about to rejoice that Plateau has now become a peaceful state.”

It noted that “what is happening on the Plateau is a clear indication that hostilities have resumed,” and the “bad old days of tit for tat” are back again in the state.

Meanwhile, Mr Lalong has ordered a 24-hour curfew.

(NAN)