Angry Youths Attack Traditional Ruler Over Insecurity In Plateau

A Plateau State traditional His Royal Highness, the Bra Ngwe Irigwe, Rt. Rev Ronku Aka, on Friday, escaped an attack by irate youths of his community.

As learned his Palace in Miango community, Bassa Local Government Area of the state was however vandalised by the angry youths.

The attack by the angry youths was over what they termed his alleged inability to protect his community from bandits.

The President of the Irigwe Youth Development Association, Ezekiel Bini, who confirmed the development to journalists on Friday in Jos, said the youths destroyed property in the monarch’s palace.

He said: “I have just seen that some people who call themselves youths have attacked the palace of our Paramount Ruler and destroyed property in the place. I don’t know where the youths come from but our monarch is safe.

“When I inquired what the problem was, they told me that the youths are angry that the monarch has not done enough to stop the killings, which is not true. I don’t know what they expect him to do because he has been crying to everyone that his chiefdom is under siege by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.

“On several occasions, he has drawn the attention of the government to the carnage going in his domain expecting the government whose primary responsibility is the protection of the people and their welfare to act.

“But up till now, the authorities involved have done little or nothing to stop the killings while the people continued to suffer.”

Meanwhile, Operation Safe Haven, a  military task force in Plateau  also confirmed the attack on the palace of the traditional ruler in a statement it issued on Friday

In the statement signed by the Military Information Officer, Major Ishaku Takwa, he said, “Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN were notified of an attack on the palace of Mbra Ngwe Irigwe the paramount ruler of Irigwe land of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

“The attack was carried out by irate youths suspected to be Irigwe youth of Bassa Local Government.

“Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN have been mobilised to the scene to ensure law and order.”