by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
JOS: The Irigwe Development Association, from Bassa Local government Area of Plateau State, has recently made a passionate appeal to the Commissioner of Police Plateau State, CP Mr. Emmanuel Olugbmiga Adesina, to establish a Nigeria Police Force Division in Miango to help stem the tide of insecurity in the land, following persistent attacks in the areas.
The appeal was made in a statement signed and issued to our correspondent in Jos on Saturday by Rev. Daniel Gya (President), and Amb. Danjuma Dickson Auta (Secretary) of the Association.
According to the statement, “The Plateau State Governor, Barr Caleb M. Mutfwang, was deeply disturbed by the state of insecurity in the land and visited Irigwe Chiefdom on the 27th January, 2025, on an assessment tour and promised to establish a Mobile Police Barracks at Zashi, Kwall, to further bolster ongoing efforts at lasting peace in the area and Plateau State at large.
“To think of it, that these attacks and killings have continued, despite a peace pact and ongoing efforts by the peace committee is most worrisome, as it makes rubbish the wisdom of all the stakeholders that brokered these avenues.
“The traditional council of Rigweland and the Irigwe Development Association (IDA) use this medium to appeal to relevant authorities to come to its aid to prevent the Rigwe nation from extinction and its source of livelihood totally obliterated by its enemies.
“The Rigwe nation is law-abiding and believes in the peaceful coexistence of all nations, tribes, creeds, and religions, and pleads with all stakeholders in the peace process to come together and ensure these.”
According to the statement, this is not the first time they are making this form of appeal and raising concerns over the continuous carnage on their land.
“We have continued to lose our loved ones in gorilla-style attacks by assailants whom many have been afraid to name. We are, therefore, by the this release once more calling on relevant security agencies, the Federal and Plateau State Governments to match their words with action in halting this barbarism in our land so our people can enjoy peace in their God-given land. We fear, if this situation continues unabatedly.”
It also stated that, “On Wednesday, the 2nd of April 2025, one Mr. Dewi Terry Nah, a 33-year-old Rigwe man, was stabbed to death around the Twin Hill (Gyu) area, located between Jebbu-Miango and Miango Town, at about 2 pm. The circumstances that led to this ugly incident are still fuzzy, as investigations are still ongoing.”
The Association also stated that, ‘”Several committees were set up by Traditional Rulers, Government, Peace-building Agency, other agencies and former GOC 3 Division, and Commander Operation Safe Haven, Major-General AE Abubakar was saddled with the responsibility of implementing the 17-point agreement hitherto signed.
“But, despite these efforts by concerned stakeholders, sporadic and intermittent skirmishes have continued to be recorded.”
According to research conducted by Mr. Barrie, from 2001 to March 2025, a total of 2,866 incidents, 1,107 deaths, 412 injuries, 2 rapes, 20,836 rooms destroyed, 742 barns and 27,330 farms were recorded. Most of the victims are languishing in abject poverty, unable to fend for their families at the time of this report.