Forum Of Chairmen Of The Plateau Youth Council (PYC) Calls On International Intervention In Middle Massacre

 Yakubu Busari

The Forum of Plateau State Youth Council (PYC) Chairmen of the 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau State have called on the international community to intervene in the recent spate of unprovoked attacks, atrocities, and well-orchestrated genocide being carried and sustained on the People of Plateau State by Fulani Militias.  The situation in Mangu, Bokkos, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, and Bassa LGAs of the State is deeply distressing, marked by attacks, destructions, and land grabbing, that demand immediate national and international attention and intervention.

Dapip Stanley Titus Chairman, Plateau State Youth Council PYC Mangu, Chairman Forum of Plateau State Youth Council PYC Local government Chairmen forum build the youth, build the Nation destroy the youth the nation.

These terror attacks have resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, displacement of Communities, and destruction of property worth billions of naira. The relentless wave of violence, with innocent civilians bearing the brunt of these heinous acts orchestrated by the Fulani militia must be halted.

We call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately declare the Fulani militia a Terrorist Group and order the Military and all Security Forces to go after them with full lethal force in Plateau State and work towards the restoration of peace in our State. Mr. President should give a marching order for the rebuilding of the villages in Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bassa that are in ruins as a result of the barbaric acts of these terrorists and ensure the safe return of all displaced persons. 

On the eve of Christmas, the 24th of December 2023, over 17 villages in Bokkos LGA were again attacked by the rampaging Killer Fulani Militia. This very attack resulted in the gruesome murder of over 200 innocent men, women, and children, maiming of hundreds, and looting and burning of property worth millions of naira.

Again, the Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Barr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang had to declare a 24-hour Curfew in Mangu Local Government Area on the 23rd January 2024 following the deteriorating security situation in the area. Despite the 24-hour Curfew imposed by His Excellency, the Fulani Militia defied the Curfew and attacked Kwahaslalek and some surrounding communities, killing no fewer than 25 persons and burning countless property on Wednesday, 24th January 2024.

All these attacks are aside from the isolated killing of our youths and people in their farms in the affected Local Government Areas. Our Youths cannot go to their farms and where they manage to cultivate their farms, Herders graze on these farms, destroying the crops cultivated.

How long shall this carnage and dastardly acts continue? We say enough is enough!

Some recent attacks on villages in Bokkos

Mato

Ndun

Mbong

Mbar

Yalwa Nono

Makarang

Kambar-peli

Shorom

Tuje

Garwaza

Lunghai

Tahore

Magi-mbar

Mangor

Makada

Butura kampany

Magi mangor

Mutfet

Some recently Affected Villages in Mangu LGA include; Kantoma

Jwak Maitumbi

Murish

Farin Kasa

Dungmunaan

Fungzai

Washna

Gaude

Aloghom

Gudum

Derkong

Nchiya

Ruvwang

Bwai

Kulben

KwaghasLalek

Mairana

Bureh

Tul

Ligit Lubang

Sabon Layi

Sabon gari

Tyop

Ligitlubang

These and a lot more villages ranging to more than 45 villages that are affected are all districts of Mwaghavul extraction of Mangu LGC alone without the details of other Native Communities in other mentioned LGAs totaling over 50.

Just yesterday, Wang, Garau-sha, and Maiduna villages in Bokkos LGA were attacked by Fulani marauders. We are yet to ascertain the level and magnitude of casualties and devastation.

This is to underscore the GENOCIDAL pattern of these terror attacks in the plateau state.

Our Dear President, take action by the Oath of Office you swore to protect the Lives and Property of Nigerians no matter their faith or religion. You must not allow terrorists to hold ransom the RENEWED HOPE you promised to Nigerians. The people of Mangu, Bokkos, Riyom, Barkin-Ladi, and indeed all the LGAs in Plateau State are being killed and their property destroyed. Our people are living in perpetual fear and intimidation.

Mr President, we are not BREATHING, we are not only being suffocated, but we are dying! We need your immediate attention and intervention to STOP THE KILLING ON THE PLATEAU!

Equally, the international community cannot stand and watch idly while innocent civilians suffer and lose their lives due to the senseless terror butchering going on. We call on the international community to come to our aid in addressing this genocide and the humanitarian crisis that has been occasioned.  

We are also calling on the International Community through the United Nations to help us and end this Genocide on the Plateau. We call on the International Criminal Court to focus its attention on Plateau State to identify actors for prosecution. 

To all Patriotic Plateau Youths, this is the time to drop any toga of political coloration and unite to protect our “Plateau Heritage” which has been under siege, deliberate and continuous attacks since the return to democracy. From 2001 under Sen. Joshua C. Dariye, it continued under Sen. Jonah David Jang, and persisted under Rt. Hon. Barr Simon Bako Lalong and refreshed under the new Government of Barr Caleb Mutfwang.

While we look forward to the immediate intervention of the President and the international committees, we encourage our communities to continue to seek ways and efforts to protect their ancestral heritage.

We also want to take this moment to warn those behind these incessant killings, burning down of houses, and destruction of farmland all In the name of making the state ungovernable for the Government of Plateau State to achieve their selfish political goals, as a matter of urgency desist from such as the youths are on a thorough investigation anyone found involved in this mayhem the youths will never take it likely with them and their co-travelers

On a final note, we call on all Government agencies saddled with the responsibility of attending to victims of disaster and attacks to as a matter of urgency attend to so many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in these Communities attacked in Mangu, Bokkos, Riyom and Barkin-Ladi LGAs of Plateau State.  All persons arrested in connection with these attacks should be prosecuted and all persons making inflammatory statements on social media should be arrested and prosecuted in line with the laws of the land.

We call on the Military and other Security Personnel in the affected Local Areas to be civil in their relationship with the civilians and locals. Plateau people are peace-loving and will continue to support peace initiatives.

God will protect our communities

God will protect/guide our heritage

God will protect Plateau State

God is in charge of Nigeria