Plateau Initiative for the Advancement and Development of the Natives (PIDAN) Central Zone,

Plateau Central Senatorial District,Plateau State, Nigeria.

10th August, 2025.

for Immediate Press Release…

AMPLIFYING THE VOICE OF CAUTION WITH A RENEWED CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION IN BOKKOS LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA AND ENVIRONS

For over five months now, we have been faced with series of attacks in various communities across the Central Zone of Plateau State by terrorists whose apparent agenda is the cleansing and sacking of the indigenous people of the zone from their ancestral lands which ominously foreshadows state capture. Indeed, Plateau State over the centuries has been serially targeted for attacks with the intention of being taken over and fully captured by the terrorists, but to the glory of God, we have always prevailed. It is unfortunate however that despite several failed attempts by the enemies of the state to capture it, they appear not to have given up on their agenda.

We recall, with pains, how these terrorists orchestrated attacks on communities in Mangu and seamlessly moved to Bokkos with reckless abandon. While the systematic annihilation, genocide and the ethnic cleansing of our people in Lihitlubang, Tyop, Tam, Chisu, Ruwi, Hurti Tadai, Manguna, Daffo, Manja, Tangur and other communities remain fresh in our hearts, we recently received with deep shock and sadness the news of isolated but coordinated pockets of attack that struck villages like Dimar, Hokk, Margif, Kompur, Nina, Ikngwahap and Fokholdep of Mushere District where two were killed and scores injured. Over the past months, we have witnessed scenarios where thousands of lives have been lost, properties worth millions of Naira have been destroyed, crops laid waste, houses razed down and communities sacked. And now, credible intelligence reveals that these criminal elements keep advancing and encroaching to the extent that they are almost taking over everywhere in Bokkos and environs spanning across Mangu, Riyom and Barkin Ladi thereby putting the entire state in a vulnerable position, yet the authorities seem to pay less attention.

The several calls we have continued to make on the authorities seem to have fallen on deaf ears. But we are not deterred and ever determined to protect our ancestral lands to the last one of us.

We find it incumbent therefore that we amplify the voice of caution upon the authorities and well meaning citizens to take heed and immediately put measures in place to avert the trend of attacks while things have not yet gotten out of control. We cannot afford to continue to pretend that the terrorists are some bunch of jokers. It will be too late to cry going forward when we continue to sleep and allow these barbarians to have their field day.

We therefore accordingly renew the calls we have made in the past for the establishment of a civilian Joint Task Force similar to Amotekun in the South West which has been very effective in curbing the menace of insecurity in that zone. This must be done through collaborative efforts between the Federal Government and the governments of Plateau, Benue and Nassarawa states. We also wish to emphasize that the resuscitation of Operation Rainbow is long overdue. We call on communities to do whatever it takes within the confines of the law to protect themselves and their lands from being taken over.

May God console the families of the deceased victims, heal survivors and heal our land, amen.

Mr. Alpha John Dakwak

Chairman, PIDAN Central Zone.

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PIDAN’s call for caution and immediate action in Bokkos local government and environs