Plateau killings: JNI denies Tinubu met only Christian victims
The Plateau State chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has dismissed as misleading, news circulating that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with only Christian victims during his visit to Jos on Thursday.
According to JNI, four Muslim families who lost their members were invited along with the families of the Christian victims during the president’s condolence visit.
The state chapter of the group had on Tuesday disclosed that they lost four members while ten others were missing.
The JNI, in a statement issued on Friday by its secretary, Dr Salim Umar Musa, said contrary to the allegations, Muslim victims were equally invited to meet with the president.
After President Tinubu’s town hall meeting with stakeholders from the state and the victims’ families, news circulated claiming that only Christian victims were invited.
The JNI said the claim was absolutely false and urged members of public to disregard it.
“Jama’atu Nasril Islam JNI Plateau State chapter wishes to clarify some misleading information circulating on social media platforms. We wish to state clearly as follows:
“Four representatives of the family members of the deceased were present yesterday at the airport to receive the condolences from Mr. President. This is to debunk the erroneous assertion circulating that only our Christian brothers were invited. This is false and misleading.”
The group stated that bodies of the victims were buried on Wednesday at Babale burial ground in Jos in the presence of their families.
It gave the names of the Muslims killed as Abubakar Mustapha (19 ), Ibrahim Haruna (29 ), an unknown person approximately 30 years old and Bala Uba (23).
“This has put to rest the dangerous narrative circulating that they were abandoned at JUTH mortuary,” the statement said.
JNI said the group was fully represented at the president’s visit by the Emir of Wase and Chairman JNI Plateau State chapter together with a delegation of 15 men and 5 women from all JNI affiliated religious organisations.
The group further stated that despite threats by unscrupulous individuals on social media, Juma’at prayers were conducted peacefully across the 17 LGAs in Plateau State.
“We are grateful to Allah SWT for conducting a peaceful Friday prayers in Jos and environs.
“This is a clear demonstration that peace is gradually returning to the city. You may recall the special request from JNI to all Imams in the 17 LGAs to observe special prayers for peace. This has been conducted successfully across the state.
“We are appealing to all the muslim ummah to remain calm and cooperate with the government and security agencies in these trying times.
“We should avoid sensational narratives especially on social media space where it is rampant.
“All unverified information should not be posted in order not to fan embers of hatred. We should strive at all times to preach peace, live peacefully in our communities at all times,” the statement added.
