Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong, yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari would soon honour 83-year-old Islamic cleric, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar, who shielded about 300 people who ran to his home when killer herdsmen invaded a community in Barkin Ladi local government of the state.

The attack which took place in Plateau villages between Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24 in Barkin Ladi local government council of the state claimed dozens of lives.

Our correspondent reports that the Muslim cleric threw his door open to locals who were running from the attackers in Nghar Yelwa on that day.

The people had been running from neighbouring villages in Barkin Ladi local government area. Many of those the Imam provided shelter was natives.

The Cleric said he first took the women to his personal house to hide and later hid the men inside the mosque”.

Speaking at the peace and security conference organized by the Plateau peace building agency with the theme; ‘Resurgence of Violent Attacks in Plateau state, forging a multi-stakeholders in partnership for peace and security’, the state governor Simon Lalong, said “I have spoken to Mr President and he said I should personally bring him to Abuja for a handshake and later I believe he would be given a national award,” he said.

Charge de Affaires of the United States Embassy Abuja, David Young also commended Abubakar for saving over 300 persons when the gunmen attacked the communities in Barkin Ladi local government.

Speaking earlier in his keynote address, former Vice Chancellor of Unijos Professor Monday Mangwant called on religious leaders to guard their utterances.

“I am cautioning our religious leaders to guard against incisive messages.”

Mangwant who condemned the killings of persons by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen further said

The crisis is not about Lalong or any politician, I urge all citizens of Plateau to support the government to ensure that lasting peace is restored in the state.

•Culled from Nigerian Pilot