The Central Zone Chapter of the Plateau Initiative for the Development and Advancement of the Natives (PIDAN) has issued a strong statement of condemnation on the attacks on the citizens of Plateau state in Bokkos Local Government Area. In a statement signed by its chairman and secretary, PIDAN expressed sadness over the killings which occurred specifically in Ruwi Community of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

It will be recalled that Plateau state and especially the central zone woke up to the sad news of attacks on mourners who were attending the wake keep of a matriarch in Ruwi village of Bokkos on Thursday 27th March, 2025 when gunmen opened fire on them leading to untimely deaths. In response to these killings, PIDAN noted that it was the most cowardly which attempts to test the will of the government and its people. It therefore called on the government at all levels to rise up to the occasion and deal ruthlessly with the criminals before the criminals rubbish the modest achievements recorded by the government and security agencies which has been quite commendable. The complete text of the statement reads:

THE PLATEAU INITIATIVE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT OF THE NATIVES (PIDAN) PLATEAU CENTRAL ZONE CHAPTER

STATEMENT OF CONDEMNATION AND A CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

29TH MARCH, 2025.

We woke up to another sad news of the gruesome murder of precious sons and daughters of Plateau state which occurred specifically in Ruwi Community of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau state on Thursday 27th March, 2025. This has once again reminded us of the dark days of our life as a people which we had left behind while enjoying the return of relative peace in the Central Zone, Plateau state and the country at large.

We at PIDAN wish to state categorically clear that once again, non state actors have made a brazen and shameless attempt to test the will and the strength of government and its people. We consider the latest spade of attack as the most cowardly by a group of callous beasts targeted at innocent unarmed citizens who were out to mourn and pay their last respect to their beloved sister, aunt mother and grandmother. The guts by these criminals to continue to test the will of the government and its people should hit the rocks by now and be met with the toughest resistance ever. It is time to end this costly joke once and for all.

While we note with commendation the efforts of the government both at the state and federal levels in nipping these acts of senselessness in the bud, we wish to describe the latest attack as an attempt to rubbish the achievements recorded in record time to ensure lasting peace and security for the citizens. We therefore call on the government and its security agencies to stop at nothing in contending with the criminals until they are fully tracked down, crushed and completely neutralized.

We send our heartfelt condolences to the immediate families of the deceased victims of this callous attack, the immediate community, Bokkos Local Government administration and the Plateau State Government. We pray that God will give us all the strength to bear the loss.

Signed:

Dr. Katkukah Danjuma Gokum

Secretary PIDAN Plateau Central Zone

Da Alpha John Dakwak

Chairman, PIDAN Plateau Central Zone

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The central zone chapter of PIDAN reacts to latest attacks in Bokkos: calls for prompt action