By Israel Adamu, Jos
Minster of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Prof Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda on Saturday visited communities that were recently attacked by gunmen in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau state.
It could be recalled that that on April 2, gunmen had attacked Zike community of Kwall District, Irigwe Chiefdom of Bassa and killed over 50 persons. .
Yilwatda who was accompanied by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru added that the Federal government is determined to end the attacks on rural communities in the state.
Speaking to newsmen eartler the minister, commiserated with the families of those who lost their loved ones and expressed the government’s commitment to the safety of lives and propeties.
I came here to mourn the lives of those we have lost.
. These are some of the saddest moments we have faced as a people. Our hearts are heavy. Plateau is in the news across the world , but for the wrong reasons. This is not the kind of attention we want.
This is a time for every Plateau citizen — regardless of tribe, religion, or political affiliation to come together.
Anyone still talking about tribe or politics at this moment is showing disrespect to the lives we’ve lost and to the people of Plateau State.
He added that Mr President is deeply concerned. He has spoken with me and with the government. He asked what more he can do for Plateau and made it clear that we must work together to restore peace.
He has promised to support us kinetically by deploying all necessary security forces to ensure our safety. But we, too, have a role to play. We must engage one another. We must talk across communities, across faiths, across backgrounds.
This message is to every son and daughter of Plateau: let us unite for peace and progress. The President has pledged to protect us and provide security, but we must also take responsibility. We must talk to one another, identify the sources of this violence, and find ways to end it.
We have traditional rulers, political leaders, religious leaders. We have farmers who can no longer access their land. This affects us all — whether Muslim or Christian, farmer or youth. Everyone on the Plateau must speak up. From the Hausa to the Berom, from the Anaguta to the Yoruba — we must talk to ourselves.
Let us identify those killing us. Let us confront the triggers of this violence and do all we can to end it. One life is too valuable to lose. Whatever it takes to bring peace, we must do it. No sacrifice is too great when it comes to saving a single soul on the Plateau.
The Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru who spoke earlier said We are here on behalf of the Federal Government to identify and share in your grief.
“We want to assure you that security agencies will bring these senseless killings to an end.
He added that ‘ I have been adequately briefed, and I want to assure you that we will get to the root of this matter. We will capture the perpetrators of this evil act.”
“The president is deeply concerned and has ordered us to find the perpetrators so they can face justice
We are working with the state government to adopt the structure that will prevent this ugly incident from happening again; it is time to end this madness,” he said
Badaru further said that the government would engage all stakeholders in the affected communities towards curbing the cycle of killings in the state.
Earlier, Retired Rev. Ranka Aku, Brra Ngwe of Irigwe chiefdom, thanked the minister for the visit and also commended the federal and state governments for prompt response to the incidents.
Aku, who decried incessant attacks and destruction of properties in the chiefdom, called on government and security agencies to intensify efforts to end the violence.
He promised to collaborate with the government towards bringing lasting peace to the chiefdom and the Plateau in general.The traditional ruler called on the government to provide support to the victims in order to rebuild their destroyed buildings.
Our correspondent reports that the ministers were accompanied by senior military personnel, and other government officials
