Plateau killings: Lalong asks residents to practise community surveillance

Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau, has asked residents to practise community surveillance as part of efforts to fish out criminals in the state.

Lalong stated this on Tuesday when the North Central People’s Forum paid him a condolence visit over the recent security challenges in the state; the governor was also installed as the patron of the forum.

At least 17 people were killed in recent attacks on Bassa and Riyom LGAs of the state in the past week. 

Speaking at the event, Lalong asked residents to monitor strange persons among them, and also hold such persons accountable, in a bid to curb infiltration of criminals into the state.

The governor stressed his passion for security and peace, and implored Nigerians to tolerate each other, irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliations.

“The lack of tolerance causes crisis. Whatever our challenges, it is efforts such as this, that will bring back Nigeria together,” he said.

“If there is peace in the north-central zone, I do not think there will be insecurity in any part of the north.

“We must accept the principle of peace, which is justice and fairness.

“We need a forum where we will put our views, respect each other and co-exist peacefully while learning from success stories of each other.”

The governor expressed optimism that the forum would foster unity, adding that “we do not want issues of separatism”.