Disturbed by the deliberate killings of innocent Muslims over the weekend in both Plateau and Sokoto states, the Muslims Media Practitioners of Nigeria, MMPN, has called for setting up of an investigative panel to unravel the rationale for such criminal attacks.
In a statement by its president, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the group condemned the killings.
It was reported that gunmen suspected to be bandits attacked Goronyo local government area of Sokoto State on Saturday where nine Muslims were killed and six others were abducted by the suspected bandits.
Report from the area indicated that among those killed by the bandits across three villages were eight men and one woman.
The villages attacked by the suspected bandits are Bejingo, Dantudu, and Tulutu, all in Birjin ward.
The bandits also carted away herds of cattle belonging to the villagers during the attack on Saturday.
Similarly, 22 unarmed Muslim travellers were brutally killed by a group at Rukaba, Jos, Plateau State, Saturday morning.
It was reported that the Muslims had attended the annual dhikr prayer in Bauchi State and they were returning to Ikare, Ondo State when they were waylaid by the notorious Irigwe militia.
The unarmed Muslims who were in a convoy of five buses were forced to disembark.
They were then killed one after another.
22 of them were killed while 14 were seriously injured.
It was the arrival of the police and soldiers on the scene that saved the rest.
The Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria enjoined other well-meaning Nigerians to condemn killings and called on federal government to immediately set up a panel to probe those arrested and if found guilty , should be prosecuted.
This, the group said, would serve as a deterrent to others planning such evil acts and prevent any reprisal attacks in future.
MMPN commiserates with the Sokoto, Ondo and Plateau state governments as well as the families and friends of the affected martyred Muslims.
“We equally urge Muslims to remain calm and not take laws into their hands while security agencies fish out the killers and punish them accordingly,” the group said.
