Plateau’s traditional rulers to tackle attacks on travellers

Nineteen traditional rulers including first class chiefs in Plateau State have pledged to admonish their people against harassment, molestation and gruesome killing of innocent and unsuspecting travellers passing through the state.

This was contained in a communiqué signed by the traditional rulers at the end of an extra ordinary emergency meeting of on the recent killings in parts of the state held at the Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace (DREP) Centre in Kwang, Jos-south Local Government Area of the state.

The communiqué was signed by the Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba; the Long Gamai of Shendam, Miskoom Martins Shaldas; the Emir of Wase, Mohammed Sambo Haruna; Miskaham Mwagavul, Nelson Bakfur; Agwom Izere, Isaac Azi Wakili; Emir of Kanam, Mohammed Babangida Muazu; Brra Ngwe Irigwe, Ronku Aka and 12 others.

The communiqué stated that, “we condemn in strong terms the harassment, molestation and gruesome killing of innocent travellers caught up in the web of violence and crisis perpetuated, especially by youths cutting across different ethnic groups and affiliations. We are resolved to admonish our people to be law abiding and loyal to constituted authorities.”

It further stated that, “we are resolved to improve our efforts to assist government authorities and security agencies to identify and expose disgruntled elements that initiate and perpetuate crime and violence in our communities. We condemn in strong terms the unfounded rumours and false accusations about the perpetrator of crime and violence in our state that has rather deepened hatred and division among our people and fuelled violent conflicts.”

They called on other traditional and religious leaders to be non-partisan, objective and constructive in tackling problems that confront their communities and to concentrate on providing leadership patterns that foster unity and preserve the uniqueness of our people to shun religious bigotry.

While advocating for the immediate return and resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), they called on government to provide funds to assist security agencies in building more security posts and barracks for a rapid, effective and efficient response to security and emergency situations.