Plateau Civil Society Organizations Forum has alerted Plateau citizens of sprouting of strange new Fulani Settlements and herders on hills around Northern and Central parts of Plateau State.
They raised the alarm during a press briefing on Friday which was read by chairman of the forum, Rev. Chris Damcher at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Plateau State Council in Jos.
This followed recent attack on several communities in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Mangu local government areas where 295 persons were killed according to the forum.
“From our observation and what is glaringly taking place on the Plateau is the sprouting of strange new Fulani settlements and herders at the footage of the hills all around the Northern and parts of the Central Zones of Plateau State. Meanwhile, the original owners of the lands have been displaced to the Internally Displaced Person Camps (IDPs) and other host communities where they are out of touch with economic realities.
The lands are being taken over and there is no government and traditional institutions fighting or promoting the returning of the IDPs to their ancestral land, while the grabbers are moving around freely and molesting citizens.
“From on the spot assessment as at now, our records are that thirty (30) communities were attacked, two hundred and ninety five (295) dead, ninety eight (98) injured and hospitalised, one thousand three hundred houses burnt(1,300), two hundred and
twenty seven (227) motorcycles burnt, unquantified looting of food stuff and other items and thousands of persons displaced.
According to the forum, the attackers are not only after the lives of the community dwellers but their ancestral and God given lands to occupy.
Similarly, the Transition committee chairmen across the seventeen local government areas of plateau state have also condemn in strong terms the coordinated attacks on innocent citizens in some communities in Bokkos, Mangu, and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of the state.
Chairman of the Association of Local Government if Nigeria, ALGON, and the Transitional Committee Chairman of Wase, Hamisu Anani who read the text of the press briefing, said the attacks were unprovoked and have resulted in the tragic loss of several lives and destruction of property.
“We the Chairmen of the 17 local government areas under the auspices of association of local government ( ALGON) Lament the renewed attacks across these communities especially in the eve of Christmas is a monumental tragedy and loss to the great people of plateau state and calls for united efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for these heinous acts.
The applauded what they described as an untiring efforts of the executive governor of plateau state Barrister Caleb Mutfwang for his prompt response to action and the repeated calls on security agencies to tackle the situation headlong through the provision of logistics and the needed support in fishing out the perpetrators of the devilish act.
“We ALGON further acknowledged President Bola Tinubu for supporting the Nigerian Army in maintaining security through the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja and the Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN for their commitment to addressing various security challenges facing Plateau and the Rapid response visit of the Vice President Sen. Kashim Shetima and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu to the affected areas on the Plateau, we thank you”. The said.
They expressed sympathy for the affected families and communities and urged citizens to stand strong, assuring them that the government is actively working to address the situation while calling for calm in the affected areas.