PLATEAU YOUTH G17 PEACE AND PROGRESSIVE FORUM.

PRESS RELEASE ON THE BRUTAL MURDER OF ROPVIL DACIYA,THE ABDUCTION OF BASHIR ABDULHAMID, AND MISS LILIAN GYANG BY BOKO HARAM.

26th January, 2020

Gentlemen of the Press,
Distinguish Ladies and Gentlemen.

We address you today when our nation is inching dangerously towards the total declaration of war on innocent and unsuspecting citizens by a ruthless band of Islamist terrorist; Boko Haram.

As Nigerians groan helplessly under deteriorating and worsening economic hardships, the country has come under what is arguably its worst state of insecurity since independence. This has been made even more poignant by the seeming ineptitude and or complacent inaction of government and its security agencies in safeguarding the lives and properties of its citizens.

It is under this atmosphere that BOKO-HARAM on 22nd January released a video of the killing of a son of Plateau, Ropvil Daciya, who until he was murdered in cold blood, was a 200 level Biology Education Student of the University of Maiduguri. This deadly terrorist group has also abducted other plateau citizen, Bashiru Abdulhamid a health worker from Kanam LGA, and Miss Lilian Gyang-a 100 level student of University of Maiduguri.

As Plateau Youths, we are disturbed by the escalating state of insecurity and wish to bare our concerns on statements issued by BOKO HARAM EXECUTIONERS directed at Plateau Christians.

We therefore wish to draw the attention of government to this gory and troubling development unambiguously aimed at instilling fear in the hearts and minds of citizens especially those of Plateau who are Christians.

Gentlemen of the press, ladies and gentlemen, you will recall that government has consistently issued statements about degrading the terrorist group and assuring citizens of their resolve to ensure that an atmosphere of peace and security is guaranteed while calling on all to go about their normal duties, assuring that government is on top of the situation. This is however contrary to the realities of daily existence in Nigeria as we continue to witness security challenge across the country with the North Eastern axis, as the epicenter of the worsening state of security in the country with far reaching implications in Plateau state and indeed other states in the country today.

Unsuspecting and innocent travelers have fallen prey and are routinely abducted and huge ransoms payed by the already impoverished families while others are killed in classic terror style, recorded and massively distributed as testament to the expanding presence of the Boko Haram terrorist within our boarders. We therefore call on the Federal Government and its security agencies to rise to the challenge by upholding their sacred oaths to defend and protect the lives of citizens as well as the territorial integrity of the country.

We call for the complete overhaul of the nation’s security architecture and the injection of new and highly motivated professionals to scale-up and effectively coordinate the efforts at winning the war on terror as a matter of necessity.

A situation where government and its security chiefs are contented with issuing statements purporting to be on top of the situation rather than getting to roots of the problem is no longer tenable. The President, General Muhammadu Buhari must take responsibility for every act of negligence on the part of those appointed to provide leadership and direction to the nations security forces and should therefore sanction non-performance by the military high command as their failure to guarantee the safety of citizens can no longer be rewarded with lengthy or prolonged stay in office while the country is being brought to its knees by a free ranging band of terrorist.

We therefore join all other well meaning and patriotic Nigerians to call on Mr President to immediately overhaul the nations security apparatus by sacking this present crop of non performing service chiefs as keeping them a day longer will continue to put innocent lives in danger and will be seen as an act of complacence and reward for the fulfillment of a narrow ethnic/religious agenda. Nigerians have seen enough bloodshed, murder and genocidal cleansing by these groups and are looking up to their government for protection.

As citizens, we are registering our discontents, concerns and grievances to the Plateau State and Federal Government respectively, and request that comprehensive measures should urgently be put in place to secure all Plateau State citizens that are schooling in Maiduguri. Government should consider redeploying the students to sister polytechnics, universities and colleges of education in, and around Plateau State.

The Federal Government should take urgent steps in securing all Federal roads and communities in the country particularly those within the North East. International assistance should be solicited in improving security in the country with special consideration given to securing travelers on our highways.

State and Federal Government should not take the threats issued by Boko Haram on Christians from Plateau State for granted and proactive measures should be considered as well as put in place to avoid any further escalations and brutal killings of citizens in any part of the country. This should not be trivialized or underestimated for any reason. We call on government at the state and federal levels to act now and act decisively in doing everything possible to secure the release of Bashir and Lilian as well as all other abducted citizens from different parts of the country.

As law abiding citizens, our intentions are to serve as watchdog for society as we aim to draw the attention of government to the need for decisive action in ensuring that citizens can live their lives in peace and safety.

Thank you.
Long live Plateau State
Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria

signed:

John Baling
For: Plateau Youth G-17

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Plateau Youth G-17 Speaks on Murder of Ropvil by Boko Haram, Calls for Rescue of Lilian and Bashir in Captivity