DAFFO ATTACKS AND KILLINGS, BEING A TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE CONCERNED PEOPLE OF RONKULERE ON THE RECENT ATTACKS IN DAFFO DISTRICT OF BOKKOS LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE.

DATE: March 11, 2018.

Gentlemen of the Press, it is no longer news that Farandonghai a remote community in Mandung Village of Daffo District in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State has been under siege from 24th January, 2018, which worsened on the 7th and 8th of March 2018. The siege is being carried out by people who are bent on forcefully evicting the people from their ancestral homes.

You are aware that this group of attackers, clearly identified by the victims as their Fulani neighbours, unleashed mayhem on them at Fahrundonghai hamlet and environs of Daffo District between 24th and 26th January, 2018, killing about seven (7) people.

They destroyed properties worth millions of Naira and wounded several others. Even as we speak now, two people are still missing following the January attacks.

While normalcy and relative peace were thought to have returned to the Community these evil and unrepentant attackers attacked other settlements, namely Nghakudung, Shilim, Morok, Fubok(Mandung), Fubok(Faram), Filla, Hotom (Warrem) and Ganda. This started on the night of 7th March 2018, the eve of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Plateau State. Their victims were five helpless women and a child.

One of the women died on Thursday 8th March 2018 after undergoing a major surgery to reestablish her internal organs which had been completely exposed by attacker’s bullet shots.

The attacks became more vicious throughout Thursday the 8th day of March 2018 and this time extended to Hottom, Dai, Mayi, Mandung, Kungul, Faram, Hurum, Dahua and Malul Clans of Daffo District leaving each Village with many deaths. Over twenty-five (25) corpses have been recovered while we believe many more are rotting in the bush as no one is courageous enough to enter the bush on search mission.

The number of displaced persons from the destroyed settlements is estimated to be above two thousand (2,000) while those that have run away from the District are more than five thousand (5,000). Even as of yesterday night, there were still gunshots and possible killings in some villages.

This to us is one blow too many. We wish to state categorically that we have had enough of these acts of senselessness and shear disregard for our kindness and hospitality, as well as our respect for the laws of the land.

Therefore we wish to make an urgent call on the Government at all levels and relevant security agencies to intervene immediately to halt further destruction and carnage.

The attacks are widening to other Districts in Bokkos LGA. Everything should be done to ensure that the people are not forced to resort to acts that could jeopardize the fabrics of the society itself.

Gentlemen, we need not remind ourselves that this is not the first time that we have been undermined and humiliated on our own soil by people we selflessly and without conditions extended a hand of love to.

You would recall that at about this time in 2013, over twenty (20) people were massacred in Mile 7 of Mangor Village of Bokkos District in Bokkos LGA. Between that time and 2015 many places like Manguna, Mbar, Kunet, Mai Hakorin Gold, Kwatas, Tarangol, Bot and many others have been attacked by these same people pretending to be thieves or armed robbers. What can we say again on the killing of our Paramount Chief, Da Saf Lazarus Agai and the District Head of Monguna Saf Monday Adake and several other Village Heads?

Distinguished Gentlemen of the Press, the reason for this outburst is not farfetched, similar incidents in Bachit and Gashish Districts and some parts of Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government among others, where the same wicked and dastardly acts were perpetrated, have not only rendered the villagers and rural farmers numbering over twenty five thousand (25,000) from over forty (40) Villages homeless, but have also resulted in a near complete takeover of the affected villages by these same people.

We are afraid that the present attacks, if allowed to continue, could result in a similar experience. We will not allow it and certainly we will not fold our arms and watch others uproot us from our rightful Lands of heritage hence the reason for this outburst.

We therefore call on the International Community and bodies like the United Nations, Ecowas, African Union, Human Rights Watch and the likes to demonstrate their might and passion for humanity by coming to the defense of the helpless and endangered people of Daffo and other Plateau State Communities undergoing similar torments.

We equally wish to call on the security agencies to rise up to the challenge by fishing out and bringing these culprits to justice.

Any further delay in this regard could leave the people with no option than to seek self defense as guaranteed by the United Nations Convention.

Gentlemen, we sincerely appreciate your partnership in honoring this invitation. Thank you and God bless.

SIGNED
Rev. Amb. Adams Mamot.

Arch. Macham Makut

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DAFFO KILLINGS: Group Condemns Attacks/Killings, Calls on Government Immediate Interventions