Buhari, Gov Umahi, APC Condemn Rivers, Kaduna, Kwara Killings

Assailants kill scores on New Year day.

Following the massacre on New Year day in some parts of the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has described the incidents as “reprehensible and unacceptable” and assured that the perpetrators would face the wrath of law.

Naija News gathered that at least 17 persons were killed after the New Year day crossover service by unknown gunmen in Omoku, Rivers State, while a traditional ruler, Etum Numana, Dr. Gambo Makama, and his pregnant wife, were slaughtered in Sango, Kaduna State on the same day.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the president’s media aide, Garba Shehu, Buhari condemned the killings of Rivers and Kaduna States on New Year day, adding that no religion or civilised culture condones violence, especially the destruction of innocent souls.

He said the incident would be investigated and directed the law enforcement agencies in both states to ensure that the attackers are brought to book.

The senator representing Rivers South-East, Sen. Magnus Abe, also condemned the Omoku attack and described the killings as barbaric and senseless.

In a statement issued yesterday by his media aide, Mr. Parry Benson, said Abe lamented the resurgence of violence and crime in the area and called on Governor Nyeson Wike to aide the security agencies with necessary device to combat security threats facing the state.

“The incident should be condemned by every right thinking Rivers man and woman. Rivers communities should not be allowed to become havens for blood thirsty hoodlums.

“The killing in Omoku is an indication that all is not well, the state government should assist the security agencies with the needed tools to tackle the rising state of insecurity.

“The state government must drastically re-engineer the security architecture of the state, and provide funding to fight crime to stop this endless waste of human lives,” he said.

In his reaction, the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, described the killing in Omoku as the height of insanity and barbarism.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, Umahi said: “We are here again faced with one of the greatest carnages and man’s inhumanity to man. To think that a man with blood running in his veins should open fire on innocent fellow citizens is so horrible and devastating.

“It is with great shock that I received the news and on behalf of my family and the patriotic citizens of Ebonyi State, I commiserate with my brother and friend, Governor Nyesom Wike, the people of Rivers State and the families of the deceased. Such an inhuman act further puts question to our existence as sane and salubrious conscious beings”

He therefore, called on the security agencies to investigate the matter and ensure that the assailants are arrested.

In a related development, the ruling APC condemned the horrible attacks on worshipers at Taiwo Isale area of Ilorin, Kwara State, on New Year day, Omoku village and the killings the Kaduna traditional ruler and his wife

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and with their friends, families and loved ones. We also condole with the government and people of the affected states.

“It is unfortunate that when people were looking forward to the New Year, they were killed and maimed in such a gruesome, barbaric and needless manner. There can be no justification for these evil, wicked and callous attacks.

“While preliminary reports link the attacks in Kwara and Rivers State respectively to hoodlums and cultists in the reported areas, we call on the relevant security agencies to embark on a full investigation to unravel the perpetrators and make sure they face the full wrath of the law,” he said.