Dantong, Fulani dead on arrival, says Hospital source

[MrVan]

By Taye Obateru & Ben Agande

5,500 displaced by recent killings in Plateau — ICRC

Jos— The International Committee of Red Cross, ICRC, has said about 5,500 people were displaced as a result of the recent killing in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

This is just as President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, lifted the state of emergency imposed on 15 local government areas in some parts of North Central and North East geo-political zones at the height of incessant killings and destruction of property.

The Red Cross in a statement signed by Head of the ICRC Office in Jos, Julia Unger, yesterday, said over 25 villages were affected by the crisis.

ICRC said many of the displaced persons were in dire need of basic items for upkeep as many ran out of their homes with just the clothes on them and were taking shelter in places where such items were not available.

"People left their homes and ran to safety with only the clothes they were wearing. They need everything to survive in this kind of situation. They have urgent needs in terms of food, water and basic household items," it stated.

The statement said the ICRC had in collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross  Society, been assisting the displaced people currently taking shelter in schools, community halls and with some families.

It said under the collaboration, a month's food ration had been delivered to about 2,800 affected people alongside blankets, buckets, and other basic needs.

It added that 10 temporary sanitary facilities had been installed at some of the temporary abodes of the displaced persons while two hand pumps were being installed to boost access to water.

Dantong, Fulani dead on arrival—Hospital source

Meanwhile, the Chief Nursing Officer of Barkin Ladi Local Government where most of the victims of Sunday's attack were rushed to, Mr. Samson Nyam, has confirmed that late Senator Dantong and Fulani were already dead before they got to the hospital.

He told journalists that to the best of his knowledge, the two were already dead but the medical team still performed their professional duty of trying to resuscitate them.

"There was no life in late Hon. Fulani when he was brought to the hospital but despite this, we still tried to resuscitate him before we finally certified that he was dead. There was no way we could have carried out any treatment on him. What we did was to wheel him on a stretcher to the ward,"

He added that there was no sign of life in Dantong when he got to the hospital, adding: "We tried cardiac massage and the necessary things but it was too late. As a professional I observed him, the skin was cold, there was no life in him. When he was in the car he might probably be gasping, that I can't tell but when he was brought out of the vehicle and wheeled to resuscitating room, there was no life in him."

FG lifts state of emergency

Meantime, President Goodluck Jonathan has lifted the state of emergency imposed on 15 local government areas at the height of incessant killings and destruction of property in some parts of North Central and North East geo-political zones.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, who announced the lifting of the ban said the decision was to enable "government put in place appropriate confidence building measures to improve security in the affected areas."

According to him,"the Federal Government has after a careful review of the security situation in the affected areas, resolved to end the state of emergency forthwith.

"In furtherance of the end of the proclamation, the President has accordingly directed that the implementation of the following regulations made pursuant to the proclamation of a state of emergency in the affected local government areas should cease forthwith.

"With the end of state of emergency, the appropriate authorities at the local and state government levels shall be responsible for the maintenance of security, law and order in the affected areas."

Govt assured on security

Government, however, assured that it will continue to work assiduously with relevant stakeholders to ensure security in the country and called for concerted efforts by all citizens to secure the country.

The local governments affected in Borno State include Maiduguri Metropolitan, Gamboru Ngala, Banki Bama, Biu and Jere LGAs, while those in Yobe State are Damaturu, Geidam Potiskum, Buniyadi-Gujba and Gasua-Bade LGAs.

Those affected in  Plateau State were Jos North, Jos South, Barkin-Ladi and Riyom LGA while in Niger State, Suleja Local Government Area was affected.

It would be recalled that the state of emergency was imposed following the 2011 Christmas Day bombing of St Theresa's Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State.

The lifting came at the end of the six months approved by the National Assembly.

Vanguard Nigeria