Shehu Sani Reacts To Abduction of Muslims Faithful Traveling in Plateau For Maulid, Call For Justice

Former Kaduna Central senator and human rights advocate, Shehu Sani, has raised alarm over the alleged abduction of Muslim worshippers in Plateau State, describing the incident as part of a long pattern of religiously motivated violence against travellers in the region.

In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Sani said reports indicated that a group he described as a “Plateau militia” intercepted a convoy of Muslims travelling to attend their annual Maulud celebration. According to him, the travellers were kidnapped and are still being held hostage, with the abductors allegedly demanding millions of naira in ransom.

Sani linked the reported incident to previous attacks on Muslim travellers in Plateau, recalling that in 2021, at least 26 worshippers passing through the state were killed. He also referenced a more recent attack in June this year, when 13 Muslim travellers from Kaduna State were brutally murdered in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Highlighting the scale of the violence, Sani cited figures compiled by the Jasawa Community Development Association (JCDA), which he said documented the killing of about 4,700 Muslim worshippers in Plateau State over the past 25 years. He lamented what he described as the absence of strong condemnation and justice for victims of such attacks.

“All these happened without a strong voice of condemnation and without justice,” Sani wrote, stressing that failure to act decisively encourages impunity. He called on authorities to take firm action against perpetrators of violence targeting travellers because of their religious identity.

Sani further warned that what he termed “selective outrage” over violence undermines moral values and shared humanity. According to him, silence in the face of repeated attacks raises serious questions about collective conscience and commitment to justice.

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