By Israel Adamu, Jos
Plateau state Youths Council Riyom Branch on Tuesday lamented the senseless killings of innocent persons in the Local government Councils in the past few weeks .
They also added that over 58 persons have been killed in the past one month .
Comrade Zang Kefas Davou the PYC Chairman, Riyom Branch who addressed newsmen at the NUJ Press center flanked by other members of the council urged the Federal government to intervene and ensure that this killings are nipped in the bud.
He said ” For over two decades, since the year 2002, Riyom Local Government Area has been subjected to a relentless and systematic campaign of violence, solely perpetrated and orchestrated by armed Fulani militias.
This dreaded campaign has been mostly characterized by unprovoked attacks, resulting in the senseless and brutal murder of thousands of our people in cold blood.
In their words ” Our once thriving communities have been reduced to rubble, with properties worth billions of Naira utterly destroyed and the very sources of our people’s livelihoods, particularly our farmlands, deliberately annihilated and in some cases rendered completely unproductive.”
. This orchestrated violence has also led to the brazen grabbing of our ancestral lands with no attempts for reversal in spite of the existence of several legal frameworks to address same.”
” The marauding activities of these armed militias have continued to dispossessing indigenous communities of their heritage and means of survival, and displacing several more thousands of our people into lives of destitution and uncertainty.”
The Youths group added “As I address you, these marauders are in possession of the cellphones of some of their victims and pick up calls that are placed on their SIMs. “
Furthermore, 31 people were severely injured and are currently battling for their lives, receiving treatment in various hospitals where many are struggling with inadequate resources for better medical care.
The economic and social fabric of our communities have been further torn apart, with over 82 houses and properties worth millions of Naira deliberately burnt and destroyed.
Beyond the immediate physical destruction, large hectares of our cultivated farmlands, representing the very essence of our people’s sustenance, have been mowed down and decimated.
The consequence of this recent surge of violence alone has led to the displacement of more than 15,000 people, who are now living in precarious conditions, without shelter, food, or dignity.
While we acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of security agencies and governments at all levels (local, state, and federal) in curbing these attacks, it is imperative to state unequivocally that such efforts, however commendable, cannot be seen as enough.
Our governments need to understand that the magnitude of the problem Riyom Local Government is facing far outweighs their current response.
The group also lamented that the primary responsibility of government, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), is the protection of lives and property, and the welfare of its citizens. In Riyom, this fundamental responsibility is being severely challenged, and the lives and livelihoods of our people remain gravely imperiled.”
The people of Riyom have exhibited extraordinary patience. This patience, however, should not be mistaken for weakness, apathy, or an invitation for further aggression. It is a proof to our profound belief in justice, our hope for peace, and our respect for established authorities. But our endurance has a limit. We repeat and we will still repeat again that our endurance has a limit.
The group also demanded a massive, permanent, and proactive deployment of security forces, particularly, troops of Nigerian Mobile Police Force (MOPOL) across all vulnerable communities in Riyom Local Government Area.
Their operations must go beyond reactive responses as the case has been to include intelligence-led operations, constant patrols, and the establishment of forward operating bases to deter these attackers and protect our people, farmlands, and properties round-the-clock.
They added that the destruction of farmlands is a deliberate strategy by our attackers to impoverish our people and dispossess them of their land.
“We demand immediate, concrete and strategic measures to protect our farms from further destruction and provide adequate security for farmers to return to their fields without fear as the farming season deepens. There is no gainsaying that food security is national security.”
” We call for the immediate, safe, and dignified return and resettlement of all displaced persons to their ancestral homes. Unlike the ones done to achieve cheap political points, the one we demand must be accompanied by comprehensive rehabilitation programmes, including the provision of housing, livelihood support, and psychosocial services to help victims rebuild their lives.”
The cycle of violence thrives on impunity. We demand the immediate arrest, thorough investigation, and diligent prosecution of all perpetrators of these heinous crimes who are well known persons , We call on the Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Defense Staff, Director General of Department of State Services and the Attorney General of the Federation to purposefully collaborate to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done with the view to end the ongoing impunity. Without justice, true peace is unattainable.
They also said ” We demand that all ancestral lands illegally and forcefully grabbed by armed militias be immediately reclaimed and restored to their rightful owners. This is non-negotiable. Land is not just property; it is our identity, our heritage, and our future. Let it be on record that we are not and we will not at any time be willing to part away with an inch of our land no matter the high sophistication of the terror that might be unleashed on our lives.
They also appeal to the federal and state governments through their humanitarian intervention frameworks, as well as international donor agencies, and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent relief materials, medical supplies, and psychosocial support to the thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and victims in Riyom Local Government. Without mincing words, their suffering is immense and immediate,
