PlateauLivesMatter, a non-partisan socio-cultural group of Plateau intellectuals has waded into the “grazing debate/conundrum” in Plateau state. Calling on the Plateau House of Assembly to as a matter of urgency put machineries in motion for enacting a law which prohibits open cattle grazing so as to save farmers from constant attacks by herdsmen.

The group which operates under the hastag #PlateauLivesMatter comprises lawyers, doctors, engineers, business professionals and leaders of thought. Following in-depth research and consultations on the attacks on the last few months, it released a press communique (signed by Redzie Jugo), urging the speaker of the House of Assembly (Hon. Peter Azi) and his 23 other colleagues to as a matter of urgency consider emulating the ban enforced by the state house of assemblies in Benue and Taraba states.

It argued that land rights (as outlined in section 43 of the 1999 constitution) guarantees Plateau natives the right of abode in the areas they are domiciled and that forceful land acquisition through strategic displacement (killings-and-takeover) by any group is illegal in the context of the same constitution.

The communique which was addressed to the speaker of the House of Assembly and copied to the remainder of the 23 members lays bare the complexity of how the conflict has affected farm productivity, farmer’s confidence, community cohesion and pupil’s education. And finishes off with an immediate call to action on the part of the legislators.

It will be recalled that the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), through its president Dr. Dachollom Datiri had earlier this week called on the Plateau State House of Assembly to enact a law that equally prohibit’s open cattle grazing. He argued that herders displaced from Benue and Taraba states may ultimately relocate to Plateau -causing addition problems.

The full communique by PlateauLivesMatter is below:

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#PLATEAULIVESMATTER

No. 25 Tafawa Balewa Way Jos, Plateau State.

08035952481, 08061548008, 08035382068.

plateaulivesmatter@gmail.com,  pllivesmatter

30^th October, 2017.

Rt. Hon. Peter Azi,

Honourable Speaker,

Plateau State House of Assembly,

21, CBN Road, P.M.B. 2142

Jos,

Plateau state.

PROPOSAL FOR THE ENACTMENT OF ANTI-OPEN GRAZING LAW IN PLATEAU STATE

We are a non-political and non-religious assembly of concerned groups in Plateau State under the name Plateau Lives Matter.

In the wake of the Eight (8) Days siege at Miango, Bassa LGA, this month, we deem it necessary to reconsider the causes (remote and immediate) of the unending criminal attacks on innocent villagers which started in Jos South, Riyom and Barkin Ladi LGAs but have now spread to other Local Government Areas in the State. We have noted that except immediate actions are taken to arrest the situation, these attacks will persist.  The crises have lasted about two decades now and have exposed all people in Plateau State to immeasurable danger to lives and property.

These attacks are linked to misunderstandings between Fulani herdsmen who graze their cattle in people’s farms. Whenever these hapless villagers protest the unlawful destruction of their farms, same is visited with attacks on an entire village at night. After villagers are sacked by these marauders, Fulani herdsmen come to occupy their villages as seen in Barkin Ladi and Riyom. The Fulani herdsmen have always complained of their cattle being rustled, but security reports have exonerated the people of Plateau State in this regard in view of the fact that the rustlers are always arrested in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina or Jigawa States. Plateau people who owned cattle are also victims of this criminal act.

In the face of impending famine in the North East of Nigeria as widely reported by both local and international medias and organizations, it will be economically and humanitarianly disastrous for the people and government of Plateau State to leave farmers in the state at the mercy of Fulani herdsmen and their militias. When helpless villagers cannot go to farms and make harvest as a result of cattle grazing farms and attacks on villages when farmers protest such callous and malicious trespass on their farms, famine is just but a night away.

The security agencies in Plateau State have shown absolute lack of capacity to permanently quell these attacks. None of the assailants in Plateau have been arrested and prosecuted, even when their settlements are known, same have not been combed for weapons.

We are well aware that Section 43 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 provides that subject to its provision, every Nigerian citizen has the right to acquire and own immovable property (land) in Nigeria. The process of such acquisition and ownership is spelt out by the provisions of the Land Use Act, 1978, which is part and parcel of the Constitution. This being the case, we expect that the claims of the Fulani to freedom to enter upon our people’s land would be based on claims of having acquired title on the land they graze upon in accordance with provisions of the Constitution and the Land Use Act, 1978.

Under the Land Use Act, the indigenous people of Plateau are customary title holders entitled to the use and occupation of their lands according to their traditions and customs (which traditions and customs they do not share with the Fulani). These rights to their lands, as recognized by the Land Use Act have been exercised from time immemorial by occupation and cultivation. This constitutionally guaranteed right is however being continuously infringed upon with the disastrous result that is known to you. Our people are now helpless and there is need for intervention by law and hence our petition and appeal to you.

In your positions as our representatives we appeal and propose for your intervention to ensure that the conflicts prevalent in all parts of the state are properly handled in the following manner:-

1. All conflicts relating to land between our people and the Fulani be handled and settled by strict application of the provisions of the Constitution, the Land Use Act and our criminal law regarding criminal trespass.

2. The House of Assembly to consider as a matter of urgency the enactment of an ANTI OPEN-GRAZING LAW. By Section 4(7) of the 1999 Constitution, the basic function of the Plateau State House of Assembly is to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the State or any part thereof.

These proposals and particularly the law on grazing when enacted will protect lands lawfully owned by communities and individuals upon their land as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution. That is the least that our people can expect from you at this moment of their lives. Reports have revealed that non-Nigerians who most of the herdsmen are have subjected the people of Plateau State to loss of lives and property in excess of two decades.

It is known that our neighbouring States of Benue, Taraba and Ekiti State have banned open grazing in their states. If a similar step is not taken, herders from these states who do not want to be sedentary and rear their herds will flock into Plateau State, a situation that will further exacerbate the hardship our people, particularly farmers are already subjected to. A restricted contact between herds and farms will surely ameliorate the avoidable suffering Plateau people are going through.

In the light of this appeal and the proposals put forward, we hope for your urgent consideration of same. We are prepared for any contact you may wish to have with us for consultation.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

_______________________

Redzie Jugo, Esq.

For Plateau Lives Matter.

CC:

1. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, the Executive Governor of Plateau State.
2. Peter Gyendong, Member Representing Barkin Ladi State Constituency.
3. Sunday Munchen, Member Representing Bokkos State Constituency.
4. Saleh Shehu Yipmon, Member Representing Dengi State Constituency.
5. Ibrahim Baba Hassan, Member Representing Jos North North State Constituency.
6. Nyam Dareng, Member Jos South State Constituency.
7. Barr. Joshua Madaki, Member Representing Jos East State Constituency.
8. Kassim Jacob, Member Representing Kanke State Constituency.
9. Yusuf Gagdi, Member Representing Kantana State Constituency.
10. Amos Kumtul, Member Representing Langtang North Central State Constituency.
11. Godfrey Lamdip, Member Representing Langtang North North State Constituency.
12. Vincent Bulus, Member Representing Langtang South State Constituency.
13. Abdul Yanga, Member Representing Mangu North State Constituency.
14. James Emmanuel Dakas, Member Representing Mangu South State Constituency.
15. Naanlong Gapyil, Member Representing Mikang State Constituency.
16. Alice Dimlong, Member Representing Pankshin North State Constituency.
17. Mwansat Caleb, Member Representing Pankshin South State Constituency.
18. Dadong Dashe, Member Representing Qua’an Pan North State Constituency.
19. Abubakar Mohammed, Member Representing Qua’an Pan South State Constituency.
20. Daniel Dem, Member Representing Riyom State Constituency.
21. Kudu Ahile, Member Representing Rukubu/Irigwe State Constituency.
22. Henry Yunkwap, Member Representing Shendam State Constituency.
23. Yahaya Adamu, Member Representing Wase State Constituency.

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PlateauLivesMatter writes House of Assembly, calls for open grazing ban