Our Reporter
The Tarangol Community of Kwatas Ward in Bokkos Local Government Area has accused Alh. Saleh Adamu, Alh. Umar Ori, and Alh. Mohammed Gorte of trespassing, illegal erection of buildings, incitement of public disorder, and threats to the peace of the community.
The community made their position known in a counter-complaint jointly signed by Daniel Peter, the Youth Leader, Chikam, Comr. Matta Patrick Danladi, Youth President Tarangol, and three others.
In the letter copied to the Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, and the heads of the various security agencies in the state, the Bokkos Local Government Council, and the Bokkos Traditional Council, the community said, “We wish to formally counter the baseless and malicious claims made by the trio of Alh. Saleh Yusuf, Alh. Umar Ori, and Alh. Mohammed Gorte, through their letter dated 23rd August 2024, addressed to the Tarangol Commissioner of Police, Plateau State, wherein two youths of Tarangol were falsely accused.
“It is of public record that the Tarangol community, predominantly agrarian, has a long-standing history of peaceful coexistence with various ethnic groups, including Fulani herdsmen, in our area.”
According to the community, the hospitality of their people has been “repeatedly exploited by certain unscrupulous individuals within the Fulani community,” particularly the trio of Alh. Saleh, Alh. Umar, and Alh. Mohammed, whom they accused of engaging in actions that threaten the peace of the Tarangol community.
Giving a background to the attacks, they alleged that since 2018, Fulani herdsmen have consistently attacked and terrorized their people, resulting in the brutal deaths of over 50 people and the destruction of property worth millions of naira.
“Just last week, we lost two promising youths, Mr. Irmiya Iliya and Mr. Bitrus Musa, who were coldly murdered by these herdsmen. Further aggravating the situation, Fulani herdsmen trespassed on community land at Chikam (Garau), Tarangol District, and illegally began constructing buildings without seeking or obtaining the community’s consent.
“In response, we peacefully requested their withdrawal and advised them to vacate the land earlier this year. Despite this, they have refused to leave, and their continued presence has resulted in ongoing destruction of our crops and additional violence.”
On what they termed as “false claims” in the letter to the Commissioner of Police, the Tarangol community said the letter was not only filled with falsehoods but was aimed at inciting violence and causing unrest.
“There is no Fulani community in Chikam or anywhere in Tarangol District. Their allegations are designed to distort the truth and vilify our peaceful community. We believe this letter was maliciously written to provoke conflict, disrupt the peace, and create unnecessary fear and insecurity within Tarangol.”
On the recent eviction of intruders in the Tarangol community, they explained that law enforcement agents were deployed to Chikam to remove strange Fulani herdsmen who had forcefully occupied people’s land without any legal or customary claim.
They added that these individuals were not native to the area and their presence was a source of tension as they continued to graze on farmlands.
While calling on the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the actions and intentions of Alh. Saleh and two others regarding their submission of unfounded accusations to the Commissioner of Police stating that their claims were deliberate attempts to cause disunity, incite violence, and disrupt the fragile peace of Tarangol.
“We trust that this counter-complaint will receive the urgent attention it deserves to prevent any further breakdown of law and order in the region. We also reiterate that our community has remained law-abiding, refraining from retaliatory actions despite the immense losses we have suffered. However, we implore the security agencies to swiftly intervene, as the situation could escalate if not addressed promptly.”