The resurgence of daily annihilation in Plateau State has irked the Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives (PIDAN).
In a statement jointly signed by the 1st Vice Chairman, Sir Patrick Gamde and the Secretary, Cmr. Nanle Gujor, PIDAN alleged that the daily annihilation of in the State are being orchestrated by some suspected Fulani herdsmen and Merchants of deaths who are doing that to destabilize the relative peace in Plateau State.

The statement said “These resumed dastardly and well coordinated acts, which started in Riyom, spreading to Bassa, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos, has now shifted it’s weapons of mass destruction to Mangu Local Government Area of the State”

It further stared that “In  the attacks on Riyom, Bassa, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos, many lives were loss, property, farmlands and houses or villages were razed beyond recognition”

The full text reads:

*PLATEAU INITIATIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT OF THE NATIVES*
*(PIDAN)*

_JULY 12, 2023_

*NEWS RELEASE*
The Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives, PIDAN, the umbrella body of the 56 indigenous ethnic Nationalities in Plateau State is saddened by the resurgence of the circle of the daily annihilation of our people by some suspected Fulani herdsmen and Merchants of deaths; and the destabilization of the relative peace in Plateau State of late.

These resumed dastardly and well coordinated acts, which started in Riyom, spreading to Bassa, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos, has now shifted it’s weapons of mass destruction to Mangu Local Government Area of the State.

In the attacks on Riyom, Bassa, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos, many lives were loss, property, farmlands and houses or villages were razed beyond recognition.

Not satisfied with it’s wicked plans, these heavily armed and trained sponsored militia have turned their arsenals on Mangu Local Government Area.

In their evil voyage, the assailants have invaded and in commodor manner  attacked and ravaged about 52 villages in some 6 districts of the local government, where about 200 innocent people were killed, their homes, property and farmlands destroyed.

The districts mostly affected by the circle of annnniliation by the haters of the state in Mangu LGA include Bwai with 70 people killed; Kombun, 5; Mangu, 70; Panyam Branch, 22; Pushit, 17 and Kerang, 8. In their continued evil drive, these groups of people invaded and killed about 12 people over the weekend at Sabon Gari area of the same Local Government Area. These are corpses that have been recovered and buried, while others may have gotten rotten, because of lack of access to some of the attacked locations.

We decided to go into these details to create an understanding of the ongoing massacre of our people and highlights the heinous acts meted on these innocent and defenceless brothers and sisters by these killers.

As at date, the magnitude of the damage these attacks have caused to the people cannot be quantified. Apart from the psychological trauma the deaths and destruction the attacks have caused, these once hardworking persons have been left without homes, farmlands and are turned into Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.

While we call for quick rehabilitation of the affected, we appeal to both the State and Federal Governments to step up actions to salvage the current situation in Mangu, Riyom, Bassa, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi, as well as safeguard and secure the whole State.

Both Governments should move beyond press statements to taking the bold steps of arresting and taking appropriate actions against all those found to be involved in these ungodly acts.

We commend the newly appointed GOC, 3 Armoured Division, for relocating his base to the troubled Mangu LGA, and urge him to go full blast after the perpetrators and their sponsors. They should also trace their hideouts , bases and destroy same.

While we sympathize with the affected, PIDAN is appealing to all the citizens of the state to take these attacks as collective, and should therefore be of assistance and ready to defend whoever is affected. We should avoid unguarded statements and to resolve and see these situations as injuries to all of us. We should bury our respective divides and join forces to fight the common enemy.

We should strengthen our community defense mechanisms and be on the alert. We should learn to question and report suspicious persons and movements; and should avoid harbouring unknown persons and of questionable characters/backgrounds.

We appeal to the Plateau State Government to empower the traditional institution to identify, register and given the power to send away people they suspect have dubious motives.

We further appeal to the State Government to lias with the Federal Government to find ways to strengthen Operation Rainbow beyond it’s present level, for more effective performance and or output.

While PIDAN sympathizes and consoles with the Government and affected, we say enough is enough, and call on our people to rise up to the occasion of defending our God given land, and return it to the home status of the PEACE and TOURISM slogan, by reporting appropriately any suspicious persons, moves or actions they notice.

Finally, we are aware of the antics of some unpatriotic elements, whose  stock is to create falsehood and deride constituted authorities. We are particularly irked by the actions and comments of the Secretary of Miyiti Allah Association of Mangu LGA, one Muhammed Salihu Musa, where he not only spread falsehood but has created tensed situation in Mangu. He also tried to drag the innocence of His Excellency, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang and the image of our well organized Security Outfit, Operation Rainbow, to the mud.

We call on the security agencies to arrest him to substantiate his claims.

God bless Plateau State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Signed

Sir. Patrick Gamde
1st Vice President
PIDAN

Cmr. Nanle Gujor
Secretary General
PIDAN

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Resurgence of Daily Annihilation in Plateau State Saddens PIDAN