Plateau Youths Raise Alarm Over Influx Of Armed Fulani Militia In Villages

……Accuses OPSH Of Complacent

Yakubu Busari

A joint  press conference by the leaderships of the Plateau State youth council, a coalition of Plateau State indigenous youths, and YOWICAN, on behalf of all Plateau youths, have raised alarm over the influx of armed Fulanis who have infiltrated the State and now in places such as Shonong and Bangai in Bachi District, Ranku(Mahanga), Guava and Fass in Jol of Riyom LGA, Josho in Daffo District of Bokkos to invade communities to disrupt this year farming season, as the Operation Safe Haven-OPSH were accused of been complaisant and had compromised on several occasions.

The  Chairman, PlateauYouth Council LOT SUNDAY ADAS, the Chairman, Coalition of Plateau State Indigenous Youths , Comrade Dekete  Joshua Paul and Chairman, YOWICAN, Plateau State,Pharmacist Markus Kanda disclosed this during a world press conference held at Nigeria Union of Journalists,NUJ, Plateau State Council on Saturday in Jos.

The statements read,” renewed killings and Fulani attacks in Mangu, Barkin ladi, Bokkos, Jos South, Riyom and Bassa LGAs of Plateau State urged the State Security Council to take immediate measures against the influx of armed Fulanis who have infiltrated the State and now in places such as Shonong and Bangai in Bachi District, Ranku(Mahanga), Guava and Fass in Jol of Riyom LGA, Josho in Daffo District of Bokkos LGA to continue the

According to them , the Operation Safe Haven-OPSH has been complaisant and has compromised on several occasions and therefore, should be substituted with the Mobile Police squadron in all the affected areas given their proactive and more effective response to distress calls.

“That  operatives of Operation Safe Haven should desist from ironical and wrongful arrest of victims rather than offenders as in the case of Kuru Station of Wereng in Riyom LGA, where two people were wrongfully arrested having themselves suffered crops destruction by the Fulani Headers, the statement explain .

They Youths called for immediate release of  Mr. Jatau Yakubu Kachai of Kuru station in Riyom LGA who was wrongfully arrested and continuous in the custody of the Operation Safe Haven at it’s headquarters in Jos to  be  released unconditionally.

That  all State  actors who  are charged with the statutory responsibility of guaranteeing the security of lives and properties to rise up to the call of their duty without compromise, fear or favour and forestall any further loss of life and property in and around the general area.

That all Villages and Hamlets should initiate immediate measures that would guarantee the security of  their lives and properties, and work in synergy with neighboring Communities  in order to contend the Fulani onslaughts.

That the personnel of Operation Rainbow in Plateau State should be activated and deployed accordingly.

That Plateau State Government, should as a matter of urgency, inaugurate the taskforce on anti-land grabbing law of the state to enforce compliance.

That the State House of Assembly should expedite legislative action to pass the Anti-Open Grazing Law of Plateau State, which shall inter alia, restrict cattle from roaming around, and hopefully check the influx of alien Fulani herders.

That the action taken by these leaderships is entirely apolitical and purely in the defense of the people of Plateau. Politicians are, therefore, strongly warned to, in their best interest, strer clear and never attempt to take advantage, or jeopardize this effort and process

That failure of the appropriate authorities to comply with the demands of the Coalition, Plateau Youths will be left with no option than resort to self help

They group  sympathize with the families of all those who have lost their loved ones in the cause of the dastardly act and pray for the repose of all the  departed souls.

We also pray for quick recovery for those that sustained different degrees of injuries with every assurance that we are with them at this painful moment and we shall stand STRONGLY with them in defense of our land.

 We are calling on the government, NGO’s and spirited individuals to come to the aid of the  injured persons who are receiving treatment in different hospitals.