Sequel to the recent security breaches in some communities of Plateau State, the Forum of Plateau State Youth Council, PYC, has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare the Fulani militia allegedly involved in the disturbing acts afflicting the state as a terrorist group.
The forum also appealed to the president to direct security agencies to pursue the group with full lethal force in the state while actively working towards the restoration of peace.
It further urged the president to mandate the rebuilding of affected villages in Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Bassa LGAs, ensuring the safe return of all displaced persons.
These appeals were made by Dapip Titus, Chairman of the Plateau State Youth Council (PYC) Mangu and Chairman of the Forum of Plateau State Youth Council Local Government Chairmen, while reacting to the recent determination of security in some communities of the State on Tuesday.
He said, “The situation in Mangu, Bokkos, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bassa LGAs of the state is deeply distressing, marked by attacks, destructions and land-grabbing, that demand immediate national and international attention and intervention.
“These terror attacks have resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, displacement of communities, and the 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,” he explained.
“We call on the resident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubul, 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 and Bassa that are in ruins as a result of the barbaric acts of these terrorists and ensure the safe return of all displayed persons.”
The forum recalls that on the eve of Christmas, December 24, 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, looting and burning of property worth millions of naira,” he maintained.
“All these attacks are aside from the isolated killing of our youths and people on 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,” the forum decried.
“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.”