Yakubu Busari
About Five groups in Plateau State, the Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria (ECCVN) in collaboration with Atakar Development Association (ADA), Berom Educational and Cultural Organization (BECO), Irigwe Development Association (IDA) and Ron Kunlere Development Association (RKDA), have petitioned the state governor, Simon Lalong, over alleged land grabbing by persons believed to be Fulani invaders on native communities.
The petition titled “A petition against land grabbing by Fulani invaders on native communities in parts of Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos and Riyom LGAs of Plateau State“, was submitted to the Executive Governor of Plateau State at the Government House in Little-Rayfield, Jos, through the Secretary to the State Government on 26th November, 2021.
It was signed by Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, Esq. for ECCVN, Mr. Benjamin Shaweng, Chairman of frontline Communities, Da Gyang Dalyop Dudu, President of BECO, Mr. Robert Ashi, President of IDA, Dr. Markus Avom, President of ADA, and Pharm. Aaron Matawal, the Acting National Coordinator of Ron Development Association.
In the 30-paragraph petition, the groups elaborated how at least 102 communities suffered at the hands of the land grabbers while being denied justice by relevant authorities.
The petition comprehensively included the affected communities annexed by Fulani jihadists in Plateau State, the district, Local Government Area and the time the communities was annexed.
The petitioners prayed, amongst other things, that the natural and traditional rights of the victims of land grab should be respected, guaranteed and enforced under the extant laws of the land.
They also sought for adequate financial compensation be recommended for payment by culprits, occupiers and government to victims for the losses and disruption on account of land grab and annexation of other properties.
See the petition below in full:
1.1 Plateau State of Nigeria has continued to witness increasing cases of attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen since 2001 on hamlets, villages and communities translating into destruction of houses, displacement of persons, illegal occupation of sacked hamlets and villages as well as the denial of access and seizure of farm lands against the provisions of the Land Use Act and, indeed, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). This is essentially the background for the enactment of the Anti-Land Grabbing Law of Plateau by the Plateau State House of Assembly, and signed into law by His Excellency, Rt. Hon. (Dr) S. B. Lalong on the 24th day of December, 2020.
1.2 The Plateau State Anti Land Grabbing Law in its form and intent, as far as ECCVN in collaboration with Atakar Development Association-IDA, Berom Educational and Cultural Organization-BECO, Irigwe Development Association-IDA and Ron Kunlere Development Association-RKDA (hereinafter referred to as “the Associations”) are concerned, seek to add credence to the aforementioned legislations that prohibit any person or group of persons from the forcible takeover of land and/or landed property belonging to either a native, citizen, non-citizen or government in Plateau State.
1.3 Presently, the inauguration of a Task Force to deal with the situation in line with the law is being awaited to provide necessary data and information about the scope, locations, and perpetrators of this crime preparatory to further State action and policies that would deliver justice to the victims in all fours.
2.0 GROUNDS
2.1 In the considered view of Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria-ECCVN and the associations (affected ethnic nationalities), this development is highly welcomed and, indeed, long overdue. It is also a golden opportunity for ECCVN and the associations, on behalf victims of land grab to petition the Plateau State Government on the following grounds:
2.1.1 That all Communities and individuals affected by this crime should have unfettered access to justice as well as the opportunity to state their cases irrespective of either their knowledge or financial capacity to institute a legal action;
2.1.2 While considering the impact of this crime on the victims, all dimensions of such an impact should be duly taken into account for the sake of justice, equity and good conscience; and
2.1.3 The law in its entirety should be pursued and diligently implemented to its full extent in terms of the constitution and inauguration of the “Land Grabbers Task Force” according to Clause 22 and 23 p. 18 & 19 of Anti Land Grabbing Law of Plateau State, 2020.
2.2 In addition to the aforementioned grounds, ECCVN and the aforementioned associations on account of this petition, herewith demand the following from the Plateau State Government:
2.2.1 A clear State action/policy which enjoys adequate appropriation towards securing and the rebuilding of affected hamlets, villages and communities;
2.2.2 Provision of Development Assistance for the purposes of Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Restoration of affected hamlets, villages and communities; and
2.2.3 Provision of a Medium and long-term Stabilization Grants and Projects of between 3-5 years and/or 7-10 years warranting start-offs of livelihoods, employment and skills acquisition upon the return of victims to their ancestral homesteads.
2.3 For the avoidance of doubt, ECCVN and the said associations have provided below a list of hamlets, villages and Communities in the general area of Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, and Riyom LGAs which have suffered and are affected by land grab.
2.4 COMMUNITIES ANNEXED BY FULANI (JIHADISTS) IN PLATEAU STATE
S-N / Community / District / LGA / Time annexed
2.5 Furthermore, the Emancipation Centre for Crisis victims in Nigeria with the affected associations have equally provided an outline of the ramifications and impacts of land grabbed on its victims. These considerations are indeed, an integral part of the experiences of victims, especially in terms of inaccessibility to ancestral homelands, threats and intimidation, exploitation and general impoverishment which victims continue to suffer in the face of grabbed lands.
2.6 Therefore, it would be pertinent for Government to take cognizance of the full implications and costs of the damage occasioned by this crime.
2.7 While considering the cost of grabbed lands to the victims, it is imperative to note the following:
2.7.1 The duration and time of the invasion and occupation of the properties;
2.7.2 Opportunity cost incurred in terms of the denial of access to streams, routes to farms and gardens, dams for irrigation and fish ponds as well as economic trees and plantations; and
2.7.3 Houses, Worship places, Schools and clinics, Markets, shops & kiosks, canteens and restaurants, mills and workshops, transportation inconveniences; Vehicles, Cars, motorcycles, tricycles and bikes amongst others.
2.8 It is also important to note that most of the victims of land grab themselves own Cattle, sheep, Goats, Pigs, Chicken and other animals. Therefore, their losses should include a wide variety of livestock.
2.9 Similarly, in terms of crops, cereals and vegetables, it should be clear that a lot of these form the backbone of subsistence and indeed income of many individuals and households through the production, processing and marketing of cash crops such as Fonio (Accha), Finger-Millet, Peas Sorghum, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Beans, Pepper, Banana, vegetables amongst others.
2.10 In this sense, it is pertinent to note that when an individual or family loses their lands to grabbers for so many years, it is not difficult to establish the direct link between such losses with hunger, unemployment, poverty and apathy.
3.0 PRAYERS
On the whole, ECCVN alongside the associations passionately praying the Plateau State Government to, as a matter of urgency, pursue both legal and restorative justice by ensuring that:
3.1 The natural and traditional rights of the victims of land grab should be respected, guaranteed and enforced under the extant laws of the land;
3.2 An express order of evacuation be made to all illegal occupiers and users of lands, dams, ponds, streams, homes and other properties;
3.3 A machinery be not only put in place to identify lands and properties grabbed and the trespassers, but a means also be devised to guarantee the protection of victims upon return to their homesteads;
3.4 For the losses and disruption on account of land grab and annexation of other properties, a Technical Committee of Valuers be constituted in order for adequate financial compensation be recommended for payment by culprits, occupiers and government to victims;
3.5 All customary lands should be duly registered and documented, under the law of the land;
3.6 Where necessary, Forest Rangers and Livestock Guards should be constituted, reactivated, strengthened, empowered and integrated with Land Administration Protocols of Government; and
3.7 Any other step/prayer deemed fit in the circumstance(s) of this petition.
4.0 CONCLUSION
4.1 It is the firm belief of the petitioners that Justice remains the bedrock of peace, progress and development in all human societies. Therefore, the Plateau State Government and all its agencies owe all citizens who have suffered the menace of land grab and other crimes the duty of upholding justice in the face of this evil and man’s inhumanity to man.”
The petition was copied to:
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