By Israel Joel
Plateau State Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association on Thursday said it is saddened and disillusioned by the persistent and vicious acts of inhumanity currently ravaging the society and exerting a great toll on the physical and psychological wellbeing of the masses across the state.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Dr. Innocent Emmanuel,

It’s Chairman and Dr. Bapiga’an William, the Secretary and made available to newsmen in Jos.

The body expressed deep concern stressing that the victims of these unwarranted attacks continue to populate hospitals’ emergency wards and mortuaries in the state ”

The statement reads that ” innocent, armless, accommodating and committed citizens of Plateau State have continued to live under the perennial unsavory reality of perpetual terrorism manifesting as kidnappings for ransom, rape, maimings, and killings as well as threats of total annihilation.

The group lamented that ” On a daily basis, people are kidnapped from their houses and living with the fear that same will happen the next day elsewhere or in their neighbourhood unabatedly, with huge sums paid as ransom.”

“This worrisome and sad turn of events is severely bleeding the resources of the people and ultimately wrecking the economy of the state in general, resulting in a further increase in the sufferings that have characterized the life of ordinary citizens who abinitio have mostly been living below , at or only slightly above the poverty line.”

People face the brazen reality of being attacked, injured, and or murdered in cold blood while their homes, farmlands, and means of livelihoods are completely destroyed with no end in sight to these hostilities.

In the face of these mindless and grave atrocities, the Nigerian Medical Association on the Plateau wishes to call upon Government and the security agencies to live up to the minimum expectation on them to protect lives and property which is the primary responsibility of the Government as well as the security agencies.

The statement also reads that “The Nigerian Medical Association calls for calm across the state and entreats citizens to remain law-abiding and not to take the laws into their hands, but to only seek all available legal means to forestall any further escalation of the already grotesque and appalling situation.”

They called on religious and political leaders to be mindful and sensitive of their comments especially in the public domain which has the propensity to incite members of the public and enflame further, the embers of discord among the peace-loving citizens of Plateau State and the country at large.

“Leaders must act as leaders both in private and public circles.”

The body also said that Government must ensure that the equality of all citizens before the law is upheld at all times for all shades of Nigerians. No one must be placed or perceived to be placed above the law.

A society that abhors justice is only opening its doors to anarchy and lawlessness.
Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done for all sorts and shades of criminality because this is the only way that sustainable peace can actually be achieved.

The evil perpetrators of these heinous crimes cannot continue to remain “unknown gunmen” for close to two decades now.

The security agencies should as a matter of urgency, do more to restore the confidence of the exasperated public so that reliable intelligence is made available to them, which they should act swiftly upon, they added.

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We enjoin the security forces and Government to genuinely commit to doing more to prevent further incidences rather than taking reactive approaches on issues that a little more mindfulness, sincerity, and commitment could nip in the bud.

The peace, security, and prosperity of Plateau and our dear nation must be the guiding watchwords for all leaders irrespective of personal beliefs and inclination.

The Association also appreciated her members who took the risks with their lives on the line to go to work and attend to victims of the gruesome acts.

“We call on all our members to continue to answer the call of duty as our noble profession and our Creator demands of us.”

The body further called on the security agents to collaborate with it and protect their members on their different routes to their various places of assignments, especially during the curfew hours.