In an effort to restore towns that were taken over by terrorists in the state, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has ordered a census of the local population, highlighting the need for accurate resident documentation.
He issued this directive on Saturday while visiting the Tyop village in the state’s Mangu Local Government Area.
The governor’s action attempts to solve the state’s escalating security issues since terrorists have taken over 64 towns.
Calling it a plot to trap people in poverty, the governor denounced the system that forces indigenous groups to leave their traditional lands.
Since the state cannot afford to be lawless, Mutfwang highlighted the need for having law-abiding citizenry.
“We will not allow this nonsense to continue. We have to be law abiding. We cannot be lawless. This kind of arrangement where indigenous population are chased out their ancestral homes is an arrangement to keep our people in poverty and we cannot accept it.”
The governor appealed for a peaceful engagement with the occupants and urged security agencies to take charge.
He added, “We want everybody to leave in peace. We welcome people who want land to build houses, but there is a procedure which must be followed.
“You can’t just come from nowhere and start building houses in the middle of nowhere. It is not done anywhere. Worse still, people were chased out of their homes; you take it over and occupy it. This is not right. This is not correct. So, we need to engage these people, and I want us to do it as peacefully as possible because we can’t continue to allow this kind of story to continue to repeat itself.”
Mutfwang spoke with the council’s internally displaced people while touring other recently bandit-attacked settlements in the Bokkos Local Government Area, such as Hurti, Daho, and other regions that were badly damaged.
The governor urged the displaced inhabitants not to give up their ancestral lands to intruders and land grabbers, saying he was saddened by their terrible circumstances, particularly those of women and children.
In the face of hardship, he highlighted the need for solidarity, fortitude, and alertness.
Speaking to young people in the impacted villages, the governor advised them to focus their energy on preserving their culture and traditions and avoid distractions since they will be the future leaders of their towns.
In order to enable more robust security measures, Mutfwang promised to personally advise the president on the critical situation on the ground and welcomed his assistance.
The governor reiterated his administration’s steadfast commitment to reconstructing the devastated villages and guaranteeing the safe return of all displaced people to their homes while addressing displaced people in Hurti, Manguna District.
He stressed that in order to provide farmers access to their farms, the government is doing all within the law to ensure sufficient security, especially in Bokkos LGA.
By preventing people from accessing their fields and ruining their harvests, he pointed out that the strikes’ strategic timing during the growing season is an effort to further entrench poverty and hunger.
“We are here to witness firsthand the devastation caused by these acts of banditry. This village recorded one of the highest numbers of casualties in this coordinated act of terrorism and genocide. I’ve come not just to sympathise but to assure you that this government stands firmly with you.
“We must rise above our differences, unite as a people, and resist the agenda of division. God did not make a mistake by planting you in this land. The government will do its part, and I urge the youth to play their role. President Tinubu has extended his condolences and stands with you in the quest for peace and justice,” Mutfwang said.
At the St. Thomas Apostle Catholic Church in Bokkos, where many displaced persons are taking refuge, the governor expressed deep sorrow over the conditions of those affected while also commending the church for offering shelter.
He promised that the government would work swiftly to ensure they were not left displaced for long.
Mutfwang also visited the mass grave site where many community members were buried.
READ ALSO: Bandits now control 64 communities in Plateau, says Mutfwang
He pledged that a memorial would be erected in their honour. Prayers for the repose of their souls were led by Reverend Gideon Para-Mallam.
In his response, the District Head of Manguna, Raymond Alo, thanked the governor for the visit and for standing with the people in their time of distress.
He revealed that some perpetrators of the attacks are known to members of the communities and, if given the opportunity, could be identified and brought to justice.
He also appealed to the governor to intensify efforts in drawing federal attention to the plight of the victims and the urgent need for rebuilding their communities.
