By Wilson Adekumola
A group under the auspices of Global Society for Middle-belt Heritage has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Department of State Security Service, and Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, over the recent attacks on the communities in the state by gunmen that claimed the lives of 276 persons.
The group during a chat with newsmen in Jos, by its president, Jerry Datim, and Secretary Joshua John, explained that about 43 villages were attacked so far, resulting in the death of 276 persons and the gunmen still continue with their attacks.
“You are all aware that on the 14th of April 2023, within the transitional period in Plateau State while Governor Simon Lalong was still the Governor of Plateau State, three villages which are Murish, Jwak-Maitumbi, and Kyampus were attacked by gunmen, where six people were killed in cold blood without any provocation.
“Furthermore, on the 15th May 2023, another attack was witnessed simultaneously in thirty-nine (39) villages which are: Kantoma, Manja, Tyop, Alohon 1 and 2, Madi-Mangul, Dan-Hausa, Gaude, Kikyau, Farinkasa, Gudum, Dung-Munan,Kirana, Dungwel, Sarbot, Tukur, Gyambwas, Fungzai, Ruvwang, Kubwon, Timnanle, Mper, Danper, Chisu, Kombon, Changal, Ajing, Washna, Jwankchom, Kombili, Larkas, Kwakas, Tugun, Ndai, Jwakchan, Kuwes, Nting-Kombum, Sabon Layi, Vodni, Gongong and Mbwon where a number of two hundred 276 bodies were buried, including the recent attacks.
“Thirty thousand (30,000) IDPs are scattered in Mangu, Panyam, Mangu Halle, Yilpo (Sabon Gari) Fan in Barkin Ladi, Maikatako in Bokkos, Marish in Bokkos, Bukuru in Jos-South and a lot in Jos North LGAs of Plateau State.
“We want to thank our Plateau ethnic brothers that have been supportive of our people and we wish to regret with shock the silent position of SEMA and NEMA which before now were known for their quick response in times like this but until now we have not felt their presence.
“We are calling on SEMA to work in accordance with their constitutional responsibilities and attend to the 30,000 IDPs scattered across the state.”
While lamenting the role of the special military task force code named Operation Safe Haven, the group said the security agency has failed to protect the people and prevent the attacks through intelligence.
The group, however, seeks immediate withdrawal of the military from all checkpoints and replace them with mobile police.
“We want our people to be returned to their ancestral land with immediate effect because they are agrarians (farmers).
“We are calling on interested stakeholders, those parties with interest in this conflict who don’t suffer any direct impact both short term and medium term to desist from escalating the conflict through insinuations thereby adding more salt to our injuries.
“We are equally calling on our youths not to become agents of these conflict merchants because we can fish them out easily.”
