NANTAP Condemns Plateau Killings, Commiserate With Victims Of Lagos Inferno

Nigerian theatre and allied art practitioners, under the auspices of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), has condemned the recent attack on 11 Plateau villages which reportedly resulted in the death of well over 200 persons.

In a statement signed by the National President of NANTAP, Mr. Israel Eboh, on behalf of the association and other practitioners in the allied art including the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Dance Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Screenwriters Guild of Nigeria (SGN) and the Director’s Guild of Nigeria (DGN), the associations stated that the spate of killings around the country, which has become almost a norm, should no longer be tolerated.

Eboh who in the statement described the killing in Jos as  ‘’one killing too many’’ called on the Federal Government to rise up to the occasion by putting a halt to the wanton waste of innocent lives.

“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Chief Security Officer of the nation must live up to his promise to ensure security of life and properties of all Nigerian citizens,” the NANTAP President said.

“The farmers-herder crisis is an avoidable crisis if handled with objectivity and sense of purpose, unfortunately, this crisis is already making Nigeria a laughing stock in the committee of nations. We must bring the perpetrators of this evil acts to book before the entire nation is engulfed in uncontrollable crisis as a result of bad handling,” Eboh added.

Also, he said “on behalf of our association, we send our heartfelt condolences to the people of Plateau State, the governor and families of the victims of the June 23 massacre and pray for the repose of the soul of the departed. While also commiserating with Mr. President as the father of the nation, we wish to commend him for the prompt manner in which the government has responded to the Plateau killings, with the visit to the affected villages by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; followed by the President’s visit the very next day. This is encouraging and it shows the seriousness the FG attached to this security breach.”

The association also extended condolences to the Lagos State Government, people and families of victims of the Otedola bridge inferno of which left scores of death in its trail.

“This is an avoidable incident and one which brings to fore the age-long debate about banishing petrol tankers and other heavy duty lorries to ply the roads only in the night. It is a simple case of lawlessness and one which must be brought to book,” he lamented.

The NANTAP President then urged practitioners to continue to use theatre and entertainment as a catalyst for peace, unity and economic prosperity.