FOLLOWING the recent hostility between the Tarok and Fulani in Wase and Langtang North local government areas of Plateau State, leading to the death of over 30 people last week, palpable tension still enveloped the area, leading to many Christian worshippers deserting places of worships on Sunday.

The Southern part of Plateau State, especially Wase and Langtang North, were in turmoil last week, as result of hostility between the Tarok and the Fulani herdsmen, leading to death on both sides. It also led to the abduction of veterinary officer who was later killed by the kidnappers. Findings revealed that most people, especially the Christians in the two local governments in the southern part of the state, stayed indoors on Sunday for fear of being attacked, following the early rumour that they would be attacked during service on Sunday.

It was further gathered that most of the Tarok natives residing in the interior and Muslim dominated parts had started migrating to the heart of both Langtang North and Langtang South councils, while the Muslims were also doing same to Wase for fear of being attacked. Meanwhile, the Special Task Force (STF) in charge of security in the state has been called upon to collaborate with security agencies in Taraba and Nasarawa states to avert cross border infiltration of terrorists, following the fresh violence that led to killings of innocent persons in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

FOLLOWING the recent hostility between the Tarok and Fulani in Wase and Langtang North local government areas of Plateau State, leading to the death of over 30 people last week, palpable tension still enveloped the area, leading to many Christian worshippers deserting places of worships on Sunday.

The Southern part of Plateau State, especially Wase and Langtang North, were in turmoil last week, as result of hostility between the Tarok and the Fulani herdsmen, leading to death on both sides. It also led to the abduction of veterinary officer who was later killed by the kidnappers. Findings revealed that most people, especially the Christians in the two local governments in the southern part of the state, stayed indoors on Sunday for fear of being attacked, following the early rumour that they would be attacked during service on Sunday.

It was further gathered that most of the Tarok natives residing in the interior and Muslim dominated parts had started migrating to the heart of both Langtang North and Langtang South councils, while the Muslims were also doing same to Wase for fear of being attacked. Meanwhile, the Special Task Force (STF) in charge of security in the state has been called upon to collaborate with security agencies in Taraba and Nasarawa states to avert cross border infiltration of terrorists, following the fresh violence that led to killings of innocent persons in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The call was contained in a communiqué signed by the Director of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed; chairman, Jukun Development Association, Wase council, Musa Umar Mavo and the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Yiljap Abraham, at the end of a meeting with the state government, STF and community leaders over the impasse in the Southern part of Plateau State.

The communique read in parts: “We condemned in strong terms the action that resulted in the loss of lives in Wase and other neighbouring local government areas and agreed that the stakeholders will appeal to their communities to end all hostilities with immediate effects. “We urged STF to liaise with security counterpart in Taraba and Nasarawa states to avert cross border infiltration and call for close liaison and collaboration among traditional and community leaders, to enhance communal understanding and confidence building.”

In a related development, the Regional Council for Conflict Management and Mitigation has condemned in strong terms, the persistent spate of attacks in some parts of Plateau State in the last few weeks and, therefore, demanded for long term solutions to the causes of the bloodletting. The state chairman of the group, Chief Ezekiel Gomos, a former secretary to the Plateau State Government, regretted the killings of several people and destruction of properties in Mavo area of Wase council, with the sudden outbreak of hostilities in Kineria Daye and Atakar in Riyom Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, “the rising number of casualties that we have recorded in the state since the beginning of the year have not only deepened our sense of sadness and sorrow, but is fast eroding the gains that have been achieved in the last few months.”
The state chairman of CMMRC stressed that to end the sporadic attacks in the surrounding local government areas like Riyom, Barkin-Ladi, Jos South and now Wase, it required sincere and genuine efforts by the authorities at the highest level of government to get all aggrieved stakeholders to sit together and find solutions to the problems.”

Culled from the Nigerian Tribune

count | 33

Southern Plateau – Churches deserted as worshippers stay away