LAGOS—The All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged the federal government to act fast to prevent Nasarawa from becoming another trouble spot in the country, saying the mindless violence being perpetrated by the Ombatse cult/ethnic militia in the state was fast spiralling out of control.

In a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said failure to act fast will see the state, which has the longest stretch of border with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, plunged into a crisis that will have a far-reaching effect beyond the state.

It said the lessons of the Boko Haram crisis which, through the same attitude now being exhibited towards the Nasarawa crisis, was allowed to fester and then degenerate into a slow-motion warfare, should guide the federal government to quickly bring the Nasarawa crisis under control.

APC said the killing of over 60 security operatives in May by those believed to be members of the cult/ethnic militia provided perhaps the best opportunity to deal a decisive blow to the cult.

‘’In an inexplicable decision, the federal government resorted to a policy of appeasement against those who killed security operatives who were carrying out their lawful duties. These mindless cultists were supposedly forgiven without any of them being brought to justice, thus emboldening them to continue to perpetrate their dastardly acts.

‘’The killings of security agents last May was not the first time the cult had attacked individuals and security operatives. Past attacks include the one between May 30 and June 1, 2012, when the cult killed 15 people in an attack on Assakio community; the one on November 21, 2012 when the cult attacked Agyaragu community, killing nine people and the November 17, 2012 attack, when the cult mounted illegal road blocks and attacked motorists and commuters, injuring many including soldiers and other security agents.

‘’Unfortunately, the kid gloves with which the cultists have been treated by the federal government, even after the killing of the security operatives, has meant more killings and destruction of property, the latest of which occurred last week, with deadly consequences,’’ the party said.