by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang of Plateau State has conducted an on-the-spot assessment of communities recently attacked and displaced in Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas of the state.
The governor visited Hurti, Daho, and other severely affected areas, where he also interacted with Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs).
He was moved by the harrowing conditions of the people, especially those of women and children, and encouraged them not to abandon their ancestral lands to strangers and land grabbers.
While emphasizing the need for unity, resilience, and vigilance in the face of adversity, the governor urged youths to resist distractions and channel their energies towards protecting their people and heritage, as they are the future leaders of their areas.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention during this period of unrest was a welcome development, and he acknowledged the President’s support and pledged to personally brief him on the dire situation on the ground so as to facilitate stronger security measures.
Speaking to displaced persons at Hurti in Manguna District, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to rebuilding the destroyed communities and ensuring the safe return of all displaced persons to their homes.
He emphasized that government is doing everything within the law to provide adequate security, particularly in Bokkos Local Government Area, to allow farmers access to their lands.
Governor Mutfwang noted that “The timing of these attacks, during the farming season, is a calculated attempt to entrench poverty and hunger by denying people access to their farms and destroying their harvests.
“We are here to witness firsthand the devastation caused by these acts of banditry,” Governor Mutfwang said. “This village recorded one of the highest numbers of casualties in this coordinated act of terrorism and genocide. I’ve come not just to sympathize, 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.
“Government will do its part,” the governor said, and urged the youths to play their role, adding that, “President Tinubu has extended his condolences and stands with you in the quest for peace and justice.”
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, and promised that government would work swiftly to ensure the victims are not left displaced for long.
Governor Mutfwang also visited the mass grave site where many community members were buried, and pledged that a memorial would be erected in their honor. Prayers for the repose of their souls were led by Reverend Gideon Para-Mallam.
Also, the District Head of Manguna, Chief 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.
In Mangu Local Government Area, the governor visited Tyop community, which was violently attacked two years ago, and expressed dismay that the displaced natives’ lands had been forcefully occupied, with some intruders erecting new buildings using materials taken from properties belonging to the original inhabitants.
Governor Mutfwang directed security agencies to collaborate with community leaders and local government enumeration staff to document all structures in the area, when they were built, ownership of land, duration of settlement, and means of acquisition.
While reaffirming Plateau State’s reputation for hospitality, he insisted that those wishing to settle in any community must do so lawfully, and warned that any form of unlawful occupation or insubordination that could spark further violence would not be tolerated.
Mutfwang then charged security heads to ensure the enumeration exercise is conducted peacefully, fairly, and with a sense of justice to all parties involved.