In the wake of tension following alleged case of blasphemy and the killing of a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto, Deborah Samuel Yakubu, the Niger state governor and Chairman North Central Governors Forum (NCGF), Abubakar Sani Bello has appealed to Nigerians for calm.
The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mary Noel-Berje on Sunday, also directed the police and other security agencies in the state, to deal decisively with any individual or groups, who attempt to exploit the current situation to foment trouble.
Deborah was buried in Tungan Magajiya, Rijau local government area of Niger state.
The governor said peaceful coexistence in a plural society like ours, is not only necessary, but the first condition for growth and development.
“Peace is in the best interest of everyone. Without peace we cannot sleep; without peace, we cannot work. Peace is the bedrock of everything. Without it, our dreams die.”
He admonished all to be accommodating and tolerant of the religious and cultural diversities so as to make the society a destination of choice for many people in and around the world.
Sani Bello appealed to traditional, community, religious and opinion leaders, to refrain from making inflammatory statements and rather encourage their constituencies to continue to be law-abiding.
According to him, “vile and unfounded rumours and exaggerations have often provided fertile sources of conflict and urged all to dispel them.”
The governor enjoined the public also “to be proactive and report issues likely to lead to breach of the peace to authorities for immediate intervention.”
Sani Bello also commiserate with the family of the deceased.
