Plateau Northern Youths In Conjunction With Coalition Of Plateau Indigenous Youths Raise Alarm Over Alleged Grabbing Of Lands Belonging To 151 Towns And Villages  By Fulani Militias

Yakubu Busari

The Atakar , Berom, Irigwe, Mwagavwul and Ron Youths Association in Conjunction with the coalition of Plateau State Indigenous Youths Bodies have raised alarm over the spate of Fulani occupying villages and Hamlets including communities as well as land-grabbing in the state.

In a press text jointly signed by Silas Samuel Biniya , Amb D S.Mwantiri Esq, Amb.Peter Bini , S.D. Dankaka , Paul Delete , and Christopher Luka all condemned the incessant attacks and killings of innocent people.

According to them,” given the unsatisfactory and feeble responses so far received from all levels of Government in Nigeria, the Atakar, Berom, Iriggwe, Mwagavwul and Ron Youths Associations in conjunction with the Coalition of Plateau Indigenous Youths Bodies are constraint to draw the attention of the public and, especially, International Community through this dastardly act of genocide in the middle belt states.

The statement read that the alarming and unacceptable loss of ancestral lands as well as the denial of access to farmlands and mining sites currently being suffered by the customary landowners in the State.

“For several years to date, the Youths Bodies have been crying aloud and lodging complaints to appropriate authorities including the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Security, Operation Safe Haven-OPSH, National Human Rights Commission, the National Assembly, “their statement.

They disclosed that there is a serious undercurrent to the unprecedented and well-orchestrated terror attacks unleashed on our Hamlets, Villages, and Communities with the principal motive of dispossessing us of our God-giving lands and territory.

The agenda and strategy of the Fulani terrorists are evidenced in attacks and killings on Hamlets, Villages, and Communities thereby intimidating and displacing native inhabitants, leading to the disruption of their livelihoods, paving the way for the occupation of such lands and denial of access which consequentially produces   ungoverned spaces and “NO-GO” areas for supposedly conquered peoples in this 21st Century

The conference pointed out that from our collective Community experiences, we strongly believe there is a curious connection between the areas where our people have suffered the worst forms of displacement and denial of access to the rich natural and mineral endowment of such locations.

 It’s common knowledge that Hamlets and Villages in Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos Mangu, and Riyom Local Government Areas are richly endowed with resources such as favorable weather conditions, natural tourist sites, fertile soils, water bodies, Cassaterite, Columbite, and so many other minerals.

It’s instructive, therefore, to judiciously note the rapidly changing economic and occupational demographics in the occupied territories.

The statement read, that in the Gashish District of Barkin Ladi LGA, the Fulani have currently taken over the economic activities of the area, having largely displaced native farmers from their ancestral areas.

The exploitation and domination of the people are evidenced at local produce markets and transport businesses in and around the said Gashish District.

It’s quite provoking to imagine that the foundations of churches that were destroyed by these terrorist elements have overnight been reconstructed as Mosques to the utter disregard of the Fundamental rights of the displaced people.

A case in point is the Rankum (Mahanga) in Jol, Ranchos, and Kak in Sopp, all in the Riyom Local Government Area.

For the avoidance of doubt, over 151 Hamlets and Villages are either totally “annexed” or effectively being occupied by the Fulani militants, bandits, or terrorists in the aforementioned Local Governments of Barkin Ladi,  Bassa, Bokkos,  Mangu and Riyom. Below is the list of the affected areas which can independently be verified.

To Be Continued ……..