Young people in Plateau stage demonstration against fatal attacks, call for regional law enforcement to boost safety

On Wednesday, youths from the Coalition of Northern Zone Ethnic Nationalities and Plateau Youth Coalition gathered at the Plateau State Government House in Jos to demand action against the ongoing attacks and insecurity in the state, frustrated by the relentless killings that have even claimed the lives of security operatives.

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The protesters were spurred by a recent attack in which gunmen stormed Rim Village in Riyom Local Government Area on Tuesday night, killing two people and injuring two others, with the villagers confirming the incident to The PUNCH in Jos on Wednesday.

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One of the villagers, John Sati, recounted that the attackers invaded the Rim community around 10:30 pm, firing gunshots indiscriminately before fleeing into the surrounding bushes, and the two injured victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

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The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Movement, Rwang Tengwong, also confirmed the attack, stating that the community was thrown into panic by the sudden attack, which saw two people killed and two others injured, and he called on security agencies to intensify patrols and bring the perpetrators to justice.

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Rwang Tengwong described the attack as another sad episode in the recurring insecurity plaguing parts of Riyom and other communities in Plateau State, and he emphasized the need for security agencies to take decisive action to address the situation.

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Efforts to reach the spokesman of the Plateau Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, to comment on the incident were unsuccessful, as his phone indicated that it was switched off, leaving many questions unanswered about the authorities' response to the attack.

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The President of the Plateau Youth Coalition, Ezekiel Peter Bini, expressed deep concern and worry about the killing of security personnel in Kanam Local Government Area, among other killings, and he lamented that if security agents can be ambushed and killed, then civilians are at the mercy of God.

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President of the Berom Youth Movement, Dalyop Mwantiri, warned that terrorists displaced from the North-East and North-West were relocating to Plateau State, targeting both Christians and Muslims, and he appealed to the international community for military intervention to address the growing insecurity.

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The group presented demands to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, urging him to forward them to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for urgent action, and they emphasized the need for decisive action to address the ongoing violence and insecurity in the state.

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President of the Berom Women Development Association, Ngo Esther Banga, highlighted the plight of women and children, saying that they cannot stay freely in their homes or look after their children, and she emphasized the need for the authorities to take action to address the situation.

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The protesters regretted that Governor Mutfwang was not in office, as he, the deputy governor, and the Secretary to the State Government had travelled for a function, but they vowed to return on Monday to present their grievances directly to the governor and demand action.

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Meanwhile, stakeholders in the state launched a landmark roadmap on Tuesday aimed at resolving conflicts between farmers and herders in the state, which has seen almost 12,000 people killed over the past two decades, with over 420 communities attacked and thousands displaced.

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The violence, primarily between farmers and herders, has led to widespread destruction and loss of livelihoods, and a fact-finding committee established by the Governor Caleb Mutfwang administration attributed the violence to a mix of factors, including competition for land, historical grievances, and ethnic mistrust.

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The Director-General of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency, Dr Julie Sanda, represented by the Director of Programmes, Nantip Joseph, described the launch of the roadmap as a welcome development and a major step towards promoting peace in the region, and she emphasized the need to address the recurring tensions between farmers and herders.

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Deputy Team Leader for SPRiNG, Priscilla Ankut, noted that the guideline was part of efforts to improve relationships between farmers and pastoralists, not just in Plateau but also in Kaduna, Benue, and Katsina states, and she said that the programme aims to promote peace in the community and help them develop resilience to climate change.

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The Country Representative of Hague Institute for Innovation of Law, Ijeoma Nwafor, explained that the guideline combined global best practices with localized research, involving stakeholders from farmers and herders to traditional and religious leaders, and she emphasized the importance of focusing on human experiences and communication in conflict resolution.

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Ijeoma Nwafor said that the document tries to bring people back to the human effect of conflicts, which often arise from the stories people have been told from birth, and she highlighted the importance of addressing the root causes of conflicts to find lasting solutions.

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The guideline, developed with support from the HiiL and funded by the UK Department for International Development, focuses on accessible and affordable solutions to address land-related disputes, and it aims to equip community actors with tools to prevent and resolve land-related conflicts, promoting fair and transparent dispute management.