Gashish Development Association (GADA) Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State on Sunday 23th June, 2019 held one year thanksgiving and memorial service at COCIN LCC Anguldi Jos South LGA in honour of the 188 people who were massacred on Sunday 23rd June, 2018 when 16 Communities in Gashish District of Barkin Ladi LGA were invaded.

President of GADA, Mr. Francis Chong, JP said they were gathered as a Community of Gashish District though not in their ancestral land because they were displaced to honour and return glory to God in remembrance of their people who were murdered in cold blood on 23rd June, 2018 when about 16 Communities were invaded by Killer Herdsmen.

He said 188 persons were killed and gave the breakdown as follows; Ruku 29, Kurra Berom 4, Kaching 4, Nkan 32, Zargwok 4, Tissan 9, Kakuruk 13, Nghar 83, Kuzen 4 and Kai 6.

The 188 persons killed were 113 children, 47 Women and 28 Men (including 3 Reverend Fathers).
He prayed for their souls to continue to rest in peace while thanking those who have been standing with them through their period of trials and persecution.

The National President of Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO) Da Gyang Dudu who was represented by the National Secretary of the organisation, Da Chollom Gyang said the event was remarkable, thanked God for those secured and pleaded for the people to forgive. He said the people did nothing to warrant the wicked and inhuman attacks.
Da Chollom went further to say the community is still vulnerable and deathtrap. He admonished the people to put their trust in God and not allow the situation make them sin against God who he described as a story changer.
He said the attacks are well planned genocide aimed at ethnic cleansing, land grasping and forceful occupation.
He said BECO is working towards a remembrance day to honor all those killed by Killer Herdsmen in Berom land.

District Head of Gashish, His Royal Highness Da John Dalyop gave an account of the hostility and said he will never want to witness such experience again. He recalled how many including himself managed to escaped being murdered by the attackers who surrounded the communities, shooting, killing and burning houses.
He decried administering his role as a District Head in the Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps instead of his ancestral area of jurisdiction. He said the attackers’ intent is to wipe the people and take over control of their ancestral land.

He called on government to fulfill its promise of reconstructing the destroyed communities and the establishment of a Mobile Barracks so the people can go back to start lives all over again. He charged the people to be prayerful and place their hopes on God.

Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Maj. Gen. Augustine Agundu who was represented by NSCDC Superintendent A. M. Ameh said they are ready to deal decisively with criminal elements and charged the people to always furnish them with useful information on perceived threat in good time so they can curtail such threat swiftly.
Chairman Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) RCC Du prayed for God’s protection on the people and charged the people not to despair or give up.
He reminded the government on their resettlement and security promise to displaced persons.

The Senator Plateau North who represented the State and National Lawmaker, Sen. Barr. I. D. Gyang in his remark observed that the peace of Nigeria has been severely threatened and now compounded.

He decried how the peace, unity and peace of Nigeria has not only  been severely threatened but is being compounded by the day.

Sen. I. D. Gyang said the security of the Nigerian Citizens is now at the mercy of bandits, kidnappers and merchants of violence and bloodshed.

Senator Gyang said management of the Plateau attacks was initially dictated by prejudice and sentiments rather than objectivity and professionalism.
The current escalation of violent attacks and bandits across the Northern States should not be mismanaged as is the case in Plateau state where violent attacks have persisted against the same victim communities for upward of two decades!

He said Nigeria’s porous borders has eased the influx of alien criminal elements into the country. He also decried how aliens are reinforcing local bandits and terrorist to destabilize the nation. Consequently, Senator Gyang gave his backing for the establishment State Policing as according to him, the armed forces are currently  overstretched and appear overwhelmed. He stated that the Law on State Police should have safeguard provisions that will ensure that the state Police do not become weapons  in the hands of state Governors for political vendetta and other excesses.

He said law enforcement is a responsibility that government must not shy away from to serve as deterrence, otherwise, criminal elements would be emboldened in acts of criminality and bloodshed.

He said there is need for those forcefully and illegally occupying lands of displaced host communities to vacate. To allow the continued illegal occupation is tantamount to allowing  criminals to retain the proceeds of crime.

He said dialogue and restitution are crucial in any reconciliation and peace process. He said he will therefore spearhead the reconciliation of Plateau North through restitution and constructive dialogue by seeking forgiveness and saying  sorry for past hurts across all communities.

Senator Gyang also stated that peaceful coexistence would require that citizens resolve disagreements and grievances through dialogue rather  than making violence an option.

He said the nation can learn from Rwanda which recovered from sectarian violence and genocide and carried out genuine reconciliation to become one of the growing economies in Africa today.

Sen. I. D. Gyang said there is urgent need to reconstruct and resettle the displaced communities in Plateau North. He urged President Buhari to follow up on the promise he made during the June 12 speech to the nation to undertake the Resettling of displaced communities.

He finally called on government and security agencies to reinforce security to communities prone to attacks in Plateau North.

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Gashish Community Plateau State Holds Memorial Service in Honor of 188 Persons Killed by Killer Herdsmen in 2018