President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has commiserated with the government and affected communities in Plateau State, over the recent attack in the state that has reportedly left no fewer than 15 people dead while calling on the security agencies to intensify efforts to protect the people and nab criminals perpetrating violence across the country.

In a statement on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki called for calm and an immediate investigation, apprehension and prosecution of all those involved in the attacks, saying that “such senseless and malicious violence must have no place in Nigeria.”

“My prayers are with the government and people of the communities in Plateau State that have been affected by the recent spate of violence that has led to the killing of many innocent people.

“I am immensely saddened to hear that one family alone lost nine people in these reprehensible attacks. I pray that the affected family and community will find the strength to bear this irreparable loss, and ask that they also find in themselves, the forgiveness that will not perpetuate another cycle of violence.

“Our nation has experienced such needless attacks over the past few months. Again, as a country that is founded upon the fear of the Almighty, we must all come together to collectively condemn such acts and continue to insist that such senseless and malicious violence must have no place in Nigeria,” Saraki said.

The Senate President commended Governor Simon Lalong for the efforts that he and his administration have taken to maintain the peace in the state. “I commend Governor Lalong for the immediate measures that he has taken to forestall further violence in the State as the Chief Security Officer. At the national level, our security agencies must do all that they can to investigate, apprehend, and prosecute all the perpetrators of this violence.

“We must send a message out to all those that wish to disturb the peace across our nation that Nigeria and Nigerians will not stand for it. We must respond with the full weight and force of the laws and the institutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Saraki stated.

In a related development, Saraki has commiserated with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and family of the Air Force pilot who lost his life during a crash in Abuja on Friday.

Another statement by his Spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the dead pilot and his colleagues who partook in the flying rehearsal ahead of the nation’s 58th Independence anniversary on Monday as “true heroes dedicated to their national calling.”

He lamented the crash incident and called for special recognition for all the officers – both dead and alive – who partook in the unfortunate national assignment.

Saraki said: “I am saddened over the tragic crash of two Nigerian Air Force fighter jets in Abuja that led to the loss of an officer and injuries on others.

“The affected officers are true heroes among countless other military personnel who continue to put their lives on the line to defend and make the country proud.

“Nigeria has lost a truly dedicated and patriotic Officer. The departed officer and his colleagues who survived the unfortunate crash deserve special recognition and place in annals of the nation’s military history,” he stated

He, however, lauded the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies for the prompt and successful rescue mission which has helped to preserve the lives of other personnel on the rehearsal mission.

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