The Berom Youth Moulders-Association, BYM under the leadership of Solomon Dalyop Mwantiri, Esq has said it received with dismay the unlawful detention of three of its members, Benjamin Bago, Victor Bature and Luka Audu by the F.O.B. Commander of the Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven in Gashish District of Barkin Ladi LGA, Captain M.D. David.

In a statement signed by BYM National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong the group disclosed that based on findings, the three persons, who are youth leaders of their respective villages in the District were summoned by the Commander on Monday morning for a meeting by 10am which they honoured with every alacrity.

After waiting for 2-3 hours with no presence of the Commander, they decided to inform the RSM of the OPSH formation that they will report to their places of work and return anytime the Commander reinvite them.

Mr. Rwang hinted that as anticipated, they were reinvited in the evening for the meeting, only to be perplexingly greeted with arrest and detention in the Guard-Room, where he subjected them to the coldness of the weather and other inhuman treatments overnight.

He said all efforts to secure their released went futile in spite several appeals by people including the Dagwom (Traditional Ruler) of Kachin who went and passionately appealed for their release, but the commander maintained his resolute position that they will not be released because they disobeyed and disrespected him.

“The Association hereby condemns the detention of its members by the commander of the F.O.B. in Gashish without any just course”

“This is coming at a time Internally Displaced Persons-IDPs of Rantis and other 2 Villages of Gashish District are making frantic efforts to embark on self-resettlement in a new location after been sacked from their aboriginal homesteads that made up part of 102 communities and Villages in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South LGAs have been destroyed as a result of violent attacks by armed Fulani militias that are currently in occupation of same”

“With the relative peace being enjoyed in the State courtesy the effort of the Security Agencies and local security outfits, members of Rantis Village view it as the right time to return and rebuild their homes, but the disposition of the said Commander is very much likely not only to cause an impediment to the vision and mission of the intending returnees who, but also has a probability of creating a loophole for militias to strike again having seen an impasse between the already traumatized survivors of terror attacks who, instead of been encouraged, are rather receiving a sprawling beckon of arrest and detention of some of their youth leaders who should have been commended for honouring the call placed on them by the security officer” he said.

According to him, it is worthy of mention in the efforts towards rebuilding the new settlement that the IDPs who have written to the leadership of Barkin Ladi Local Government Council and other bodies for support, including OPSH and other sister agencies might have to be put on halt the project as a result of the ugly development.

“As a people, we view the move as a form of intimidation by the officer to indirectly frustrate the rebuilding project. We call for the immediate release of our members as the Association will be compelled to explore all the lawful means including legal action for redress in the prevailing circumstance”

“We call on the Commander of Sector 4 Commander and the STF Commander to immediately redeploy Captain MD David from Gashish as his action has left us in doubt of supporting the rebuilding project of our once destroyed communities. In addition, he should be mandated to tender a written apology to the incarcerated youth leaders”

“The Association and the peace loving Berom nation appreciates the sacrifice of the STF and pledge to always be law abiding”

“We also pledge to support security personnel in the discharge of their legitimate duty to ensure our communities are peaceful” the statement concluded.

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Berom Youth Condemns Unlawful Detention of its Members by OPSH in Gashish Barkin Ladi LGA