The Senator representing Plateau North in the National Assembly, Pam Dachungyang, has condemned the recent gunmen attacks in the Angwa Rukuba community, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, which claimed at least 28 lives.
The senator made this known during a visit to the affected communities, where he met with traditional rulers and victims of the attack on Saturday
The visit also took Dachungyang to the palace of the Paramount ruler of Anaguta nation, His Royal Highness Dr. Johnson Jauro Magaji II; the Acting Gwom Rwei Du; the Adagwom Izere as well as the locations of the attack victims at the Jos University Teaching Hospital.
Speaking with journalists in Jos after the visit , Senator Pam said, "What I have seen today makes me unhappy. I am not happy about it, but we will hand over everything to God. Whoever might have done this, God will pay them double or even triple portion so that it will not happen again.
"I came at this time to checkmate the bad attitude of those who came to destroy the peace of Plateau State. I came a bit late because when the wickedness took place, I was in Abuja and immediately, we swung into action with my two colleague Senators from Plateau to move into action and place a motion before the National Assembly over what took place here."
He described the scene as "heart-touching and unbelievable," stressing, "What I saw today is that somebody will cut human beings like they are cutting grass and leave them to die.
"Today, I have also come to visit the traditional rulers that are directly affected so that we can hear their own views about what actually took place.
"Honestly, in their submissions,it was obvious that they were not happy. It is something that took them unawares. While people were enjoying their Palm Sunday, some armed men from nowhere came and attacked the people, killing several innocent persons," Dachungyanga lamented.
He continued, "I have gone around the hospital, and most of the victims told me that they are recuperating . I believe, and I pray that they get healed completely by God's grace.
"But ŵhat I saw today is heart touching and unbelievable that somebody will cut human beings like they are cutting grass and leave them to die.
Those that have gone to the great beyond have gone. Only God knows the pain and trauma they went through. Those who are alive are what we are focussing on our selves to see how they can survive. Truly speaking, it was a bad thing to experience," he added.
Flowing from the incident, the senator expressed his support for the establishment of the state police, as he argued, "Honestly, with what has happened, I know that every state, not only in Plateau, needs a legislation to take care of themselves.This is because it is unwise that somebody will be lamenting, crying and seeking succour or help from above and they said that they are waiting for response. But where it is a direct response, particularly if a state police is created, then everybody knows his terrain. As a member of the National Assembly and particularly as a member of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment, we are making frantic efforts to see that this state police issue comes to fruition.
"And I know that Mr. President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is interested in this dream so that every state, community, can defend themselves and make laws for themselves on security matters. This issue on state police, I feel, is the right thing for us as a country to do and embrace now because this is the right time."
He insisted, "If a state police is created, then everybody knows his terrain. The state police is the right thing at this time. But before the creation of the state police, let the people defend themselves."
Senator Dachungyang also urged the citizens to take responsibility for their security, saying, "You can not just sit down, and somebody will come and cut you with a machete, and you do nothing. Nobody is saying that you should take the laws into your hands, but you should not allow somebody to come and attack you without stopping him, whether in the church or mosque."
In their separate remarks, the traditional rulers thanked the senator for the visit and his and concern and efforts to address the security situation in the state.
"All we need in Plateau is unity among the people to be able to defeat the enemy," the Paramount ruler of Anaguta nation said.
Our correspondent reports further that for over a decade, Nigeria has struggled with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality.
The unending state of insecurity has eroded public confidence in the nation's current federal security structure, prompting stakeholders to call for the establishment of state police.
The primary responsibility of the government is to protect lives and property.
Successive governments in Nigeria have failed in this regard as killings and kidnappings by terrorists have become the order of the day in some parts of the country, leading to the clamour for the establishment of state police.
With the recent rise in insecurity in all parts of the country, agitations for the decentralisation of the Nigeria Police Force have remained persistent.
Proponents of state police have argued that the present centralised policing system can not and will not address the mounting insecurity challenges in the Nigerian federation.
They argued that for effective policing, police officers and men must be familiar with their environment and understand the language and culture of the people.
They equally posited that the current policy arrangement of moving police personnel to unfamiliar environments across ethnic, linguistic, and religious boundaries has become counterproductive.
Those who are averse to the idea of state police have raised concerns about the likelihood of abuse by overbearing governors who act like emperors in the states.
However, since Tinubu assumed office in 2023, the president has been advocating for the creation of state police to curb the security challenges confronting the country.
Senator Pam Dachungyangs comments are in support of this initiative, highlighting the need for more localised security arrangements to address the complex security challenges facing Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole.