Berom Nation Holds World Press Conference to Address Security Challenges Bedevilling Beromland

Amb. Friday Bako
Viewpoint Nigeria
30th May, 2018

All registered Berom Organizations today 30th May, 2018 held a World Press Conference at Berom Educational and Cultural Organization (BECO) National Secretariat John Dankaro Crescent, Jos South LGA to address the security challenges bedevilling Beromland.

Below is the full details of the Press Release duly signed by Heads of the Tripartite organizations consisting of BECO, BYM (Berom Youth Moulders) and BEWDA (Berom Women Development Association) and made available to Vi

TEXT OF A WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE BY ALL REGISTERED BEROM ORGANIZATIONS ON RECENT SECURITY CHALLENGES IN BEROMLAND HELD ON WEDNESDAY 30TH MAY, 2018 AT THE BECO SECRETARIAT, JOHN DANKARO CRESCENT BUKURU

Gentlemen of the press, welcome to this world press conference.

At the inception of the present administration in Plateau State, government did set up a committee to look into the problems between the Berom and Fulani, which had resulted in the loss of lives, properties and the burning and sacking of natives from their ancestral lands.

These natives are now squatting with relations and other spirited friends. Effort to get back to rebuild their homes have met with stiff resistance, as their lands are being occupied by these killer herdsmen. The report of the Committee was well received by government, which has also set up the Plateau Peace Building Agency.

The relative peace which had been enjoyed in the State in the last two and half years was a result of efforts by both the State Government, the security agencies, and of course the cooperation of the various communities.

However, in the last few months a serious resurgence of killings, attacks and wanton destruction of farmlands has been on the increase and the same herdsmen are responsible.

These attacks have not been limited to Beromland alone, but the Irigwe in Bassa Local Government Area and some communities in Bokkos Local Government Area have also been on the receiving end, where over a hundred natives have been killed and farm land destroyed.

It is no hidden secret that even when Mr. President was in Plateau State on a State Visit the killings in both Bokkos and Miango were on. The public is also still in the dark as to the killing of a Village Head, District Head and a First Class Traditional Ruler in Bokkos has not been unraveled; neither have those responsible for the burning down of the residence of the District Head of Ropp in Barkin Ladi sometime ago even after signing the peace accord.

Despite that silent killings, wanton destruction of farmland has been going on. The following incidences are also of note:

a. On the 8th April 2018, seven (7) people were gruesomely murdered in Nding Village in Fan District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area in cold blood;

b. On the 7th of May 2018, the residence of the District Head of Gashish in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area was set ablaze in the night while he was at home. Gun shots were fired while the residence burnt down and he would have been burnt to death in the house but for the bravery of some of the men of Operation Safe Haven, who made bold to break into the burning house and found the District Head already unconscious. They rushed him that night to a hospital in Barkin Ladi and subsequently to Jos, where his life was saved. May God bless these military men for their gallantry.

c. On the 18th May 2018, four (4) young men were attacked on their farm and three (3) were killed and one escaped.

d. On the 20th May 2018, the residence of the District Head of Fan was attacked as the house was riddled with bullets, but the District Head managed to escape being killed by the grace of God.

e. On 22nd May, 2018, a massive attack was launched in Rambu Village in Fan District, where heavy weapons including Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) were used.

f. On the 27th May 2018, four (4) young men were also attacked near Nding Village in Fan District, where two (2) were seriously injured and now receiving treatment in a hospital.

g. On the 28th May, 2018 simultaneous attacks were launched at Kakuruk village in Gashish District, Nafan, Nding Sesut, Nyarwai and Lohala in Ropp District where a total number of three (3) people lost their lives and many relatives injured.

h. Just Yesterday, the 29th May, 2018 two (2) people travelling on a motorcycle to visit relatives attacked the previous day were ambushed and a woman killed.

There was an allegation of the rustling of cows by some persons in Fan and in various discussions with security agents, elders and the District Head agreed for security agents to comb the area in search of the cows. The combine military and police teams were in Fan for about five (5) days even as local vigilante assisted them, but up to now no rustled cow has been traced to Fan.

We want to make this point very clear that in the various meetings we had with our traditional rulers at various levels, it has been made clear that any act of criminality in whatever form shall not be tolerated and anyone caught in such acts must be made to face the law accordingly. It is a matter for great concern that the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria through its Chairman will turn around to blame the Berom and Irigwe for killing and rustling their cows.

The allegation of an existing militia in both Berom and Irigwe lands is a mere figment of the hallucinating imagination of the Chairman, one Muhammed Nura Abdullahi, whose assertion was carried in the Nation Newspaper of 20th May 2018, same day some hectares of farmland was invaded in Kassa Village in Ropp District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area where crops were totally destroyed.

From these, the public will now appreciate that the month of May has been a bloody one for the Berom, particularly in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas. Despite that these herders/terrorists have visited our ancestral land with mayhem and are now arrogantly occupying a good number of villages, they are the ones who have the guts to cry foul.

We are bold enough to say that at no time has any Berom person(s) ever left their village(s) to attack anyone in their own settlement, as we are not aggressors. All the attacks have been on our villages.

Our women are being tortured, raped and, in some instances killed. Reports of all these incidences have been lodged with the relevant security agencies for action and NO arrests have been made while victims are being treated as the accused.

PRAYERS

1. The killings in Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Bassa and Riyom Local Government Areas be properly investigated to fish out those responsible for sanction. Both Federal and State Governments may wish to act accordingly.

2. The State Government should not allow the commendable effort they made over two (2) years ago to waste away. The White Paper on the Berom-Fulani Peace and Reconciliation Committee be released immediately for implementation accordingly.

3. The native villages that are under occupation be vacated for the people to get back to their ancestral homes to carry on their livelihood just like any other law abiding citizen of Nigeria.

4. In as much as we appreciate the efforts of government at all levels and the sacrifice of the security personnel, there is still much to be done for normalcy to return.

5. The numerous Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in our midst have never been visited by either NEMA or SEMA. They too need the relief materials that are being given to other IDPs.

CONCLUSION

Without any fear of contradiction whatsoever, we make bold to reiterate the fact that the Berom are a peace loving people and cherish the idea of peaceful coexistence in the country, where Justice is the watch word. It is for this love for peace that we have never invaded any village of any community to seize it or cause any damage. History testifies to this. We are therefore ready to partner with and work with government and the State Peace Building Agency for genuine and lasting peace to be restored. We are convinced that God who has brought us all under this great umbrella called Nigeria did not err and we also know He is a God of Justice and for this reason He beckons us to follow Him.

We appreciate the role of the security agencies and personnel, however, there are a few bad ones that should be identified and flushed out so as not to tarnish the image of the entire system.

May God grant our leaders the will and wisdom to do justice.

Thank you.

Da Iliya Choji Kim          
BECO Vice President

Rws Choji Chuwang D    
BYM President

Ngwo Florence B. Jambol
BEWDA President

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Berom Nation Holds World Press Conference to Address Security Challenges Bedevilling Beromland