The Leadership of the Plateau Youth Council (PYC), Gwong District, Jos North Local Government Area has observed with dismay the unruly behavior of some miscreants which led to the destruction and looting of public and private property today Sunday October 25, 2020 around Dogon Dutse and Lamingo areas of the locality.

This unfortunate development happening even when the Plateau State government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Jos North and Jos South LGAs because of the vandalization and looting spree embarked upon by some disgruntled elements who have hijacked a hitherto peaceful protests across the state is needless, preposterous and roundly condemnable.

The PYC strongly frowns at this action of some youths who have taken it upon themselves to vandalize and loot public and private property with impunity. This action is not only despicable but capable of breaching the peace of the locality and the state in general.

We therefore call for calm, patience and understanding from all those who are aggrieved due to one reason or the other; that they should channel such grievances through the proper avenue for redress. More so that the Plateau State government has already set up a panel headed by a reputable retired High Court Judge to entertain such complaints with a view to addressing genuine cases.

The PYC in Gwong District also uses this medium to send a clarion call to the government at all levels particularly the Plateau State government to rise up to this occasion by initiating programmes and projects that will get most of these youth gainfully engaged as doing this will restore the peoples’ confidence in the ability of the government to address the many yearnings and aspirations of especially the youth who form a chunk of the country’s population.

The government must be seen to be working to create the enabling environment for the youth to maximize their full potentials to forestall a repeat of the ugly incidences of the past weeks.

While we urge all community and religious leaders, women and youth organisations to rein in their followers and subjects, the Council must commend security operatives for handling the current unrest with utmost civility which resulted in minimal casualties. We implore security agencies to continue to engage the rampaging youth using international best practice in dealing with the civil unrest.

Be that as it may, the youth council wish to commiserate with families of all those who lost their lives or sustained various degrees of injuries during the fracas.

Specifically, we are deeply pained by the unfortunate loss of a vibrant youth, Mr. Kani Damina of Gari Ya Waye Street, Angwan Rukuba, Jos who lost his life this morning as result of the mayhem that occurred around Dogon Dutse. May his soul and that of others find rest in eternity.

The PYC as a responsive and responsible youth organisation has already opened channel of communication between her and the various groups in the affected areas; and we will continue to explore the pathways of dialogue and mediation in dealing with this current wave of unrest until enduring solutions are evolved for the common good.

Comrade Samson Y. Chiroma,
Chairman,
Plateau Youth Council,
PYC,
Gwong District, Jos North LGA.
October 25, 2020.

count | 11

PRESS RELEASE: Plateau Youth Council (PYC), Gwong District sues for calm, urges restrain on the part of the youth over civil unrest in some parts of Jos metropolis and environs.