HURIWA: Tinubu's Approval of Military Base in Plateau Not Viable Solution
Seeks justice amid recurrent violence
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA),has criticised President Bola Tinubu's recent approval for the establishment of a military base in Plateau State, saying it was not a viable solution.
The president approval followed the tragic Christmas Eve attacks that claimed the lives of over 200 villagers.
HURIWA, in a statement by its
National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, contended that setting up a military barrack in Miller Farm (Gada Biyu) Mbar District of Bokkos Local Government Area was not a viable solution to the longstanding violence plaguing the state.
“Plateau State has been marred by recurrent violence and deadly conflicts for decades, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives and widespread destruction of property.
“The recent Christmas Eve attacks, which targeted several communities in Barkin Ladi and Bokkos Local Government Area, left a trail of devastation and deepened the sense of insecurity among residents.
“In response to the escalating violence, President Tinubu approved the immediate establishment of a military base in Plateau State, to enhance security and curbing further bloodshed.
“The decision was welcomed by some as a necessary step to restore peace and stability in the region,” HURIWA has raised concerns about the effectiveness of this approach.
The organisation argued that the 3rd Division of the Nigerian Army in Plateau State, equipped with hundreds of military personnel and supporting elements, already provided a significant military presence in the region.
It said that the establishment of another military base was seen as redundant and unlikely to address the root causes of the conflict, even though some might welcome it as a solution.
“Good as it is in the minds of apologists, it is grossly insufficient so long as there is no closures for all the deaths that have occurred in Plateau state caused by terrorists since the days of the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari. We think that the government should emphasize justice rather than political appeasement."