By our Reporter
A group under the umbrella of the Coalition of Plateau State Indigenous Youths/Ethnic Nationalities has called on communities in Plateau Statedevelop self-defense mechanism in order to survive the ongoing hostility and genocidal mission declared on the state by the Bandits and other terrorist elements urging that that it had become necessary as a strategy towards of defending their heritage.
In a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting held in Mangu in the wake of recent attacks and rising insecurity in the state, signed by its State Chairman, Com Paul J. Dekete and State Secretary, Amb. Duwam Bosco, the youth coalition advocated for synergy in community border-patrol within the State between ethnic groups.
While expressing concern over what they described as “the actions of military personnel on the Plateau based on their actions and responses during distress situations,” the youths said they had lost trust and confidence in the personnel especially personnel of sector 5 in Bokkos LGA.
They said “The attention of the coalition has been drawn to the harsh molestation of our people in Bokkos by personnel deployed for peace restoration in the area, after the massacre, such personnel should be call to order.”
They stated that they observed that there was a deliberate attempt by the Fulani militias to prevent victims from returning to their ancestral land/homes by looting their properties and food items and called on the Government to take necessary actions to stop the looting of properties of victims/displaced persons.
According to the youths, information at their disposal indicated that some armed Fulani were being hosted at Maling (Angwan Hausawa) and called on security agents to search and disarm them, to avoid future attacks and killing of innocent citizens.
On the role of security agencies in the State, the youth coalition expressed displeasure that despite the presence of various security apparatus in the State, to protect human lives and property, the state was only witnessing “massacre of innocent people, especially children, women and the aged.”
“We had earlier assumed there is intelligence gathering and sharing among the agencies which ought to have been promptly used to avert the ongoing act of terrorism and banditry in the State, but expectation has never seen the light of the day. It is in the light of the continuous killings, and failure in the protection of lives and properties in the State that informed the Coalition to conclude that its either there is no synergy among the various security outfit or, their efforts are been sabotage by their subordinates.”
In view of the destruction of lives and properties, the youths advocated for the establishment of a North Central Development Commission to carter for the millions of people displaced persons living as IDPs in their ancestral land stating that the establishing the commission would rekindle the people’s confidence in the administration and also fast track development and restoration of normalcy.
On what it tagged mandate to Government, the Coalition said it observed the non-commitment on security issues by the various Local Government Chairmen in the State, hence the need for an immediate setting up of and funding of Local Security Outfits/Vigilante Groups as Early Warning and Early Response Mechanism to curb the spade of killing across the State pending the requisite response from the Federal Security agents.
While applauding the effort of Maj. Gen. A.E Abdulsallam, the GOC 3rd Division who doubles as the Commander of Operation Safe Haven-OPSH for his accessibility, non-bias and prompt response to early warnings, the Coalition also resolved that any attack on either of the Ethnic Group/Nationalities in the State shall be responded appropriately irrespective of where it happens.
The Coalition warned that any attack on either of the Ethnic Group/Nationalities in the State shall be responded appropriately irrespective of where it happens.