The Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO), has learnt through the social media, of an exclusive invitation extended to the Leadership of the Jol Community Development Association, from the office of the Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Program.

The invitation, we are told, is in reaction to the complaint raised by the community, on the reckless, insensitive and illegal naming of a primary school by the federal government, in Rankun Community of Jol ward in Riyom District, the action which is exclusively outside the purview of the federal government.

We would have not hesitated applauding the action of the government in its direction, given the prompt response to the issues raised by the Jol Community. But we are however constrained by the followings;

1. From experience of past and very recent events, invitations by government to our people, have sadly, unfortunately and unbelievably turned out to be a lethal set-up for unsuspecting autochthonous nationalities. It’s recall that not long after the invasion of Kombul in Mangu LGA, some of our leaders were tricked via an invitation to attend a security meeting in the governor’s office, Jos. There, at the meeting some of them were arrested, ferried to Abuja, on the orders of the Governor. Two of them, namely the chairpersons of the PYC, for Riyom and Barkin Ladi were arraingned before a Jos magistrate court. We will not be surprised if this is another evil device in the same direction. BECO hereby cautions the authorities to demonstrate respect for due process in the conduct of the meeting, in such a way and manner that participants are guaranteed freedom and unrestricted atmosphere of expression.
2. By not having the venue of the said meeting in Jos or any other locality within easy reach for our people, the federal authorities seem to have deliberately set the stage for the deliberate economic ruination of our people. Transportation, accommodation and feeding in Abuja, is not within easy and affordable reach of these poor villagers, whose source of livelihood has repeatedly been truncated by attacks and dislocation from Fulani terrorists, now illegal occupants of the land. We are not surprised at this show of seeming and subtle heartlessness, though we remain very much sad that it should be so.
3. BECO therefore, cautions against any form of intimidation, forcef and or, any unorthodox means of manipulation to extract favourable confessions, from our people. The people must be allowed into the venue of the meeting with their legal representation, as enshrined in the constitution. This is because we are not contesting the powers of the federal government to site a primary school in our domain. If anything at all, we are grateful for the kind gesture. We are only taken aback that the federal government will act in utter lawlessness, by naming primary schools, which is the responsibility of the state and local governments.

We don’t want to accept that in naming the school after a leader of a band of murderous and land- grabbing terrorists, government is deliberately legitimising these very acts.

Chollom Gyang
Secretary General.
16th August, 2020

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BECO Cautions Against Manipulation of Jol Community Leaders