The recent killings in Plateau State have taken political and ethnic dimension. The elite and elders are worried over the development.

They advocated caution and unity instead of divisiveness, writes Our Correspondent, Golok Nanmwa.

Stakeholders and elders of Plateau State have lamented the political dimension that the recent killing of innocent villagers by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have taken.

Over 200 persons were killed about a month ago in BarkinLadi Local Government Area.

Gunmen stormed the villages and shot at residents in their sleep.

According to a group, Plateau Scholars and Researchers Forum, the unfortunate incident has assumed a political dimension. The group decried the ugly political twist and lamented that rather than unite to form a common front against external forces, politicians have hijacked the crisis for cheap personal gains.

Speaking to newsmen in Jos, the elite said they are grieved over the resurgence of attacks in the state after three years of consistent peace, and condemned the killings.

Chairman of the forum, Professor Danladi Atu, said “One striking feature of our strength as a people lies largely on the commonalities of our cultural values and practices. Indeed, all the 54 ethnic nationalities have been cohabiting peacefully in this territory since the pre-colonial era as polynomial communities with none so assertive enough to overwhelm the others.

The forum observed that the geometric magnitude of the growth and development of the state is being thwarted by intermittent and sporadic violent conflicts of different forms in the last two decades. “These sporadic upheavals witnessed between 1994 and 2018 retrogressively took us backward on the ladder of progress. This trend saw many sister and younger states overtaking us in realistic terms of development,” they noted.

Professor Atu noted that with the coming on board of the Simon Lalong-led administration, they thought that the state had overcome the challenges posed by sporadic violent conflicts in view of the measures put in place by the present administration to address the issues headlong which include among others: running an all inclusive government, fair and equitable spread of projects and instituting veritable platforms for peace building in the state to promote peaceful co-existence.

They regretted the resurgence of the ugly and dreaded violent conflicts after three years of lull and abyss, and admitted that the current situation calls for deeper and sincere reflections by well meaning Plateau people.

Lamenting the criminalities perpetrated under the guise of farmer-herder conflicts, such as armed banditry; settling of personnel scores amongst groups and individuals, cattle rustling, land grabbing, security impersonation, the group noted that there is the need to review the security architecture of the country, emphasizing the need for governors to be empowered constitutionally to oversee security agencies in their respective states.

They condemned the wave of attacks “in the name of ‘reprisal’ and counter reprisal. “It is even more worrisome listening to the travails that the survivors of this carnage went through. It includes asking them to speak a particular language, or dialect, cultural or religious background’’.

As peace loving people, the forum warned those it described as conflict merchants to desist from deliberate attacks on Plateau people in the name of farmer-herder upheavals.

“We are calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to fish out the perpetrators of this evil and dastardly act so as to serve as a deterrent to others.”

They stated this following the harassment of government officials, civil servants and visitors at the new Government House, Little Rayfield, in the name of a peaceful protest.

They particularly frowned at the direct assault on Governor Lalong and his entourage including his Deputy, Professor Sunny Tyoden, who were on official assignment to Internally Displaced Peoples, IDP, camp and stated that it is disheartening that the number one citizen of the state duly elected by the people would be assaulted. “It is unacceptable. An assault on the governor and his deputy is an assault on the people of Plateau State who voted them into office.”

Also, some elders under the aegis of Coalition of Plateau Patriots have condemned those politicizing the killings in the state.

They also condemned the attack of innocent persons by suspected Fulani herdsmen and other criminal elements leading to the death of many, maiming of innocent people and also the destruction of several villages in Bassa,Barkin-Ladi,Mangu,Riyom and Jos South Local Areas.

“Enough blood has been spilled by these killer gunmen and we shall not accept further loss of lives andproperty, we should remain our brothers’ keepers all the time,” the coalition stated.

At a media briefing in Jos, Chief Sylvaus Lot,who spoke on behalf of the Patriots,said “this killing of innocent persons have left a humanitarian crisis which the government of the state and people of goodwill are trying their best to solve, the consequence of these heinous act is the emergence of IDPcamps where several hardworking and patriotic people are made to stay.”

Theycondemned the barbaric and callous killing of people by herdsmen and other militia groups.“We add our voice with the good people of the world by calling on government at all levels to step up actions in curbing, arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators of these ungodly acts that are fast becoming a norm.

The governor’s unparallel commitment to provide succor and ensure the relocation of victims of the attack to their homes is quite reassuring.It is on record that the ill informed attack on the governor by these hoodlums took place when he was on one of such good missions

“As citizens of Plateau State,we are worried by the reactions and actions of some rampaging youths,we consider the series of attacks as an attack on the entire people of Plateau State and not on a particular tribe,after all in the aftermath of the recent attacks many of those who lost their lives were not only from a tribe but also people indigenous to the state. We therefore condemn in totality their attitude of continued blockade of roads where further loss of lives of innocent indigenous people and other motorists take place.We consider the actions of some unpatriotic youths as not only barbaric,but an attempt to disunite the state in order to achieve a targeted agenda only known to these elements.”

Historically when similar attacks took place in Tarok and Goemailands, we did not witness the blocking and killing of road users, when the killings took place in Bokkos,Mangu and Bassa,there were no road blocks talk more of killing innocent passersby.

They expressed worry at the reaction of some youths and other criminal elements and their masters, especially in the current crisis, apart from blocking and killing people on the highways, the way and manner they conduct themselves leave much to be desired.

According to them,the attack and destruction of government property at the Government House and the one of Saturday, July 14 on the convoy of the governor during a visit to an IDP camp in Anguldi, Jos South,shows that the hoodlums are up to something.

“We are worried over the shocking justification of these actions by some of their elders which is disgraceful to say the least and is unbecoming of people who once held sway in the state.

“These condemnable acts have very glaring political undertones; in particular, the ill-fated attack on the seat of government deserves a closer look. It is to be noted that the active involvement of some highly placed people who are standing trial for alleged corruption speaks volume about the political motivation behind the attack and it does seem that since the desperate attempt to jettison the principle of zoning of the governorship and foist an ethnic agenda failed, the activities of a particular ethnic group and other criminal elements have been replete with belligerent outbursts and other acts of unbridled intolerance,” the coalition stated.

It added that the current crisis predates the governor.Did these groups attack the former governor when gunmen alleged to be herdsmen attacked and killed several people in DogoNahawa?Did they attack the then governor at theGovernment House when a serving senator and a member of the House of Assembly were killed during a funeral mass of some people killed by herdsmen? It is on record that in all the attacks during the past administration, we did not recall the former governor visiting the affected areas talk more of visiting the wounded yet these groups said nothing.

They explained that the state is a collective heritage and should not be made to look like an exclusive preserve of one or two ethnic groups. The coalition called on all well meaning elders in the state to call to order criminal elements whose political ambition is pitching them against other ethnic groups.

According to them, no ethnic group can survive in this state aloneand no group should see itself as more superior than others.

Plateau Elders Advisory Council of the All Progressive Congress APC on Monday  appeal to the federal government to support the state government with funds  in order to begin the process of resettling all displaced persons  to their ancestral homes stressing that  this is necessary to begin the healing process .

They also  advised all citizens of the state to join hands with the administration of Governor Simon Lalong to restore and sustain the  peace established by the administration .

We call on government at all levels to step up measures to guarantee the safety ,peace and security of their citizens .

In a press statement made available to newsmen in Jos and signed by Captain Joseph Din rtd reads that you could recall that a few weeks ago ,we had cause to address you when many of our people were killed and scores maimed by Militia herdsmen as they carried out attacks on some communities in Riyom ,Barkin Ladi ,Jos south ,Bokkos ,Mangu,Bassa, and Jos North local government areas .

We condemn this attacks on our people and the sacking of  them from their ancestral lands “,we call on people of the state to support the Simon Lalong led administration in order to  restore and sustain the peace established by the administration .

“It is therefore sad to note that events which followed after our appeal indicate that some unpatriotic people and disgruntled elements are bent on ensuring that plateau state does not experience peace again ,this is not only unfortunate and wicked ,but upturns the long tradition of peace and accommodation for which generations of our people are known, as the state and federal governments ,including other stakeholders make frantic efforts to ensure that the victims of the attacks and the affected communities are stabilized  these efforts are being impeded by agents of anarchy who are busy fanning embers of disunity and suspicion in the land ,two instances will suffice ,the first is the attack on the governor Hon Simon Lalong,s convoy at the Goe sciences Internally Displaced Persons camp at Anguldi Jos south local government area after he had visited the camp to share in their sorrow and pain and to present them with relief materials ,” we believe that even if those who pelted the governor, s convoy had genuine grievances against the administration ,there are legitimate means of resolving them without resorting to violence ”

The statement further reads that ” Before then ,it is on record that Gov Lalong had quickly mobilized security to secure the people after the attacks ,visited some of the victims in the hospitals and provided succor to those at the IDPs   as an interim measure “.

“As a matter of fact ,what this group of miscreants has done to the governor, s convoy should be seen as a criminal and all people of good conscience must be condemn it while security agencies fish out those responsible and made to face the wrath of the law .”

“It is on record that since 1999 ,it is only the Lalong administration that has sustained peace successfully for 3 years ,he is also the first to establish the Plateau peace building agency which is bring copied by other states ,he therefore deserves to be commended and supported instead of being attacked”

,”We also commend the maturity exhibited by the governor who inspite of these attacks has continued with his all inclusive style of governance .”

Also a Group operating under the aegis of   All Progressive Congress  APC elders and stakeholders of Barkin Ladi ,Jos North ,Jos South and Riyom local government areas of Plateau state on recently frowned at the politicization of security challenges in Plateau

They also said that  all victims of conflict from  2001 till date should be resettled to their ancestral land.

Addressing newsmen in Jos Arc. Pam D. Gyang who addressed newsmen in Jos reads that “Today, like always, our thoughts and prayers are with the direct victims of the barbaric and highly condemnable spate of killings in our land, we commiserate with ourselves and all within our society as victims of this madness and provocative display of man’s inhumanity against man, may the souls of the departed, whose blood runs down the Plateau hills and settles on her valleys rest in peace and to the wounded, both in spirit and body; quick recovery.

It has become very imperative to address the world today through you, gentlemen of the press, on the position of the natives and residents of Barkin Ladi, Jos North, Jos South and Riyom Local Governments on the unfortunate incidences that have taken place on our land and the looming danger it portends to all and sundry if reason is not deliberately injected to prevail in not only calming frayed nerves but in also ensuring the enduring legacies of a united Plateau bequeathed on us by our founding fathers is not abused, torn and discarded into sad dust bins of history.

We as a people have never recorded a greater outpouring of support on our land like in the aftermath of this display of insanity but it will be most unfortunate if we allow this to be watered down by the way we treat ourselves as components of the same society. As brothers and sisters in whose veins run the blessed blood of Plateau, we owe the souls of the dead and the scars of the wounded every form of respect they deserve, caution therefore is necessary in how we respond to attacks and conflicts, stereotyping road users at Mararaban Jama’a, Angle D and other transit corridors is not proper and goes contrary to God’s injunctions to us as adherents of faith and so this is condemnable and thus strongly condemned.

We frown at the mobilization of people from diverse shades of nativity under whatever guise to perpetuate crime and engage in lawless ventures like the forceful invasion of the seat of power on June 27, 2018 and the events of July 14, 2018 where the Governor, who was on a humanitarian visit, the first of its kind by any sitting Governor of the State, was attacked by hoodlums and miscreants who instead of providing more succor and good tidings to the ones the Governor brought to the IDP camp, ended up inflicting more mental and psycological pains on the already traumatized victims. The attacks on Plateau State Government House, Little Rayfield and Geo-Sciences Secretariat in Angle-D all took advantage of the cosmopolitan nature of these locations and manipulated people who do not share in the history of Plateau State and also who do not uphold our values as a peace loving people.

We respectfully call on all custodians of authority and leaders of thoughts across all spectrum of the society, from the Church and Mosque to the palaces, class rooms and board rooms to use their God bestowed privileges to push a narrative that encourages the need for harmony and peaceful coexistence within the realms of their powers. We should take particular instructions from divine injunctions contained in Romans 13:1-2 in the Holy Bible which says “let every soul be subject to higher powers for there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained by God. Who so therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation” these are not only restricted to the Holy Bible but certainly, found within the laws and norms of every society that holds on to God and places premium on authority.

Violence has never been an acceptable way of conflict resolution and it contravenes all known human conventions therefore we call on relevant Government agencies to ensure that those who are culpable in disturbing the peace of the land are made to face the maximum punitive measures prescribed by the extant laws so as to send a strong warning to anyone who may be wickedly misled to tow this path of savagery in future.

We painfully consider ourselves as victims of the same circumstances but what these trying times encourage is that we find solace in ourselves as being partners in progress of the Plateau project. Sadly, we notice a veiled threat to this unity by words and utterances of a certain group of people who have chosen to misrepresent the facts of the remote and immediate causes of these unfortunate happenings by rather giving it an ethnic coloration all in an attempt to ostracize these three local governments and deny them the opportunity for a continued political participation.

We find it imperative to state here that the politically savvy sons and daughters of these Local Governments are fully aware and in support of the existing power sharing and rotation arrangement in the State and hence have no interest whatsoever to rock the political boat by challenging the seat of the His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Plateau State Barr. Dr., Simon Bako Lalong and by this, we pass a vote of confidence on his leadership and support his future endeavors.

Historically, the peace loving people of these Local Governments (Barkin Ladi, Jos North, Jos South and Riyom) have contributed to the sustenance of peace in all its ramifications and thus use this medium to reassert our commitment in a bid to clear any doubts as may be found within the hearts and mind of our fellow brothers and sisters from other parts of the State.

As equal stake holders in the Plateau project, we frown at the politicization of security challenges and the seeming veiled threats of isolating these Local Governments due to the ugly post-attacks incidences, we say this with clarity and no fear of contradiction that as a peace loving people, we do not support community insulation of crime and criminality and we have a responsibility to continue being good hosts to all shades of constituted authority whose seats have by didn’t of administration been cited on our land.

We welcome pronouncements of the Governor to the effect that no piece of Plateau State land, as owned legally by her citizens will be annexed or taken away by any land grabber. We also commend efforts of security agencies that have stood out by arresting suspects who carried out these attacks and look forward to a more bumper harvest of arrests as promised; we are comforted by the fact that the Governor is pushing for their trial to be conducted here in Plateau State.

All indigenes of Plateau State from all demographic and levels of influence should come together and proffer solutions to these vicious cycles of barbarism instead of apportioning blames along ethnic and sundry divides.

We appeal to the Governor to ensure that palliative measures promised victims and affected areas be provided in time so as to reduce the burden of the crisis. Of particular mention is the Mobil Police Barracks so as to fortify the land preparatory to the resettlement of the victims.

All victims of conflicts from 2001 till date should be resettled to their ancestral land.

We assure the Governor of our unalloyed support at all times .

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Plateau killings: The worrisome politics By Golok Nanmwa ,Jos