Caleb Mutfwang, the Governor of Plateau State, has issued a cautionary remark regarding the potential outcome for Nigeria if immediate action is not implemented to address the escalating wave of killings and various violent offenses. He expressed concerns that if left unattended, Nigeria may plunge into the disarray experienced by Somalia. The governor addressed the public, in Jos, the capital of the state, when he welcomed Yakubu Dogara, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who led a group of current and past members of the House on a visit to offer condolences to the state after a terror-driven massacre occurred which claimed the lives of approximately 200 individuals in Bokkos, Mangu, and Barkin Ladi local government areas.
Mutfwang extended appreciation to the ex-Speaker for consistently aligning himself with the region and encouraged him to persist in advocating for the welfare of the populace. He mentioned that there is a plot aimed at instigating chaos within the locality, and lamented the uninterrupted spate of killings that has plagued the Plateau for years now. Dogara expressed disapproval towards President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approach to the country’s security crisis, advising him not to follow the dishonorable footsteps of past leaders.
Destructive intention of the perpetrators must be halted.
According to Dogara, Tinubu’s predecessors simply expressed grief over the victims of violence through mere press statements, without actually taking proactive action. He implored the President to take decisive measures by utilizing all possible means of authority to identify those responsible for the acts of violence, as well as those who support them, and ensure they face the consequences of their actions. Dogara asserted that the perpetrators behind the genocide and excessive rampage violence aims to eradicate Nigerians way of life, and therefore, urgent action is imperative to halt their destructive intention.
Following the devastating attacks that forcefully displaced more than 10,000 individuals, the military authorities swiftly took action by redeploying Lt Col T.T. Pave, the Sector Commander of Operation Safe responsible for Bokkos LGA and a new Commander was assigned to lead the Council Area. A coalition of indigenous youth groups and ethnic nationalities in Plateau State have demanded a thorough investigation into claims of collusion between Sector 5 of Operation Safe Haven and extremist Fulani factions. This alleged collusion is believed to have caused the devastating assaults on Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Mangu communities, where numerous lives and property worth millions of naira were lost.
Government urged to halt the plundering of victims’ assets.
In a press briefing, the coalition criticized the actions of the former Sector Commander during the attacks on communities, urging the Federal Government to investigate his activities. Paul Dekete, the State Chairman of the coalition, who shared this information, expressed his resentment towards the lack of dedication to security matters displayed by the local government chairmen in the state. Thus, he appealed to the state government to enforce a directive that compels all local government councils to promptly establish and finance local security units or vigilante groups as a means to tackle the escalating rate of violence within the state until the Federal Security agents take appropriate action.
The coalition expressed grave concern over the conduct of military personnel in the Plateau region during times of distress. In particular, they were alarmed by the brutal mistreatment of the residents in Bokkos by peace restoration forces deployed in the aftermath of the massacre. They emphasized the need to take necessary steps to address and rectify the behavior of these personnel. The coalition also beseeched the government to promptly enforce measures to halt the plundering of assets belonging to victims or those who have been forced to leave their homes.
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Data gathered so far reveals a death toll of over 200 individuals and displacement of more than 19,995 individuals in Bokkos region alone. The displaced persons are now taking refuge at the mini stadium in Bokkos. Meanwhile, the coalition claimed to have received information that a group of armed Fulani individuals were seeking shelter in Maling (Angwan Hausawa), and thereby urgently called on security agents to conduct thorough searches and disarm them to prevent future attacks.
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