1,891 killed in 5 Plateau’s 5 LGs
The seven-man committee set up by Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong to work out modalities for the safe return of Internally Displaced Persons yesterday disclosed that 50, 212 persons have been displaced from their original abode in 118 communities and 98 Fulani settlements in five local government areas of the state.
The report of the committee which was set up in July 24 and read by the chairman, Air Vice Marshall Bala Danbaba (rtd) stated that it ascertained a total of 59,008 affected persons in the mentioned LGA’s in which a total of 1,891 were said to have lost their lives.
The committee identified the affected local government areas as Jos north, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bassa and Bokkos stressing that it received 55 memoranda from affected communities and individuals and visited 27 internally displaced camps and host communities with the exception of luggere Dorawa in Barkin Ladi due to security challenges.
“The committee also identified 78 villages and farmlands that were destroyed and in most cases annexed by Fulani herdsmen in the five LG’s,” adding that, “Mangu and Jos south were however discovered to be affected by the unfortunate event but only served as host communities for IDP’s from Barkin Ladi and Riyom,” it read.
It recommended that the 50, 212 IDP’s be returned to their original abode in four phases and evacuation should commence when proper security measure are put in place to avoid further attacks on returning persons.
“Government is advised to note and ensure all displaced persons willing to return to their ancestral homes are provided with some materials to facilitate the process of resettlement through reconstruction of destroyed houses in the affected communities. Alternatively, government can provide temporary comps within their communities ending when proper will be erected,” it stated.
Receiving the report, Lalong assured of government’s resolve to study it and release a white paper for immediate implementation “in the spirit of integrity, accountability and transparency in leadership.”
Lalong urged all citizens to avoid unnecessary incitement and spreading of false information that further give wrong impression that nothing was being done to address the plight of the victims and the citizens in general.