Nigeria: Plateau youths protest killings, demand state police for security

Youths from the Coalition of Northern Zone Ethnic Nationalities and Plateau Youth Coalition on Wednesday protested at the Plateau State Government House in Jos, demanding action against the persistent attacks and insecurity in the state.

The protesters, frustrated by the unending killings, lamented that even security operatives are no longer safe.

In the latest attack, gunmen on Tuesday night stormed Rim Village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State and killed two persons.

Some villagers who confirmed the attack to The PUNCH in Jos on Wednesday said two others were also injured during the incident, which saw the gunmen engage in sporadic shooting that lasted for several minutes.

“The attackers invaded the Rim community around 10:30 pm, firing gunshots indiscriminately before fleeing into the surrounding bushes,” one of the villagers, John Sati, said.

According to Sati, the two injured victims were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Movement, Rwang Tengwong, who also confirmed the attack, lamented the situation, saying the community was thrown into panic by the sudden attack.

“Gunmen stormed Rim Village around 10 pm and opened fire sporadically. As of now, two people have been confirmed killed, while two others sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital,” Tengwong said.

He described the attack as another sad episode in the recurring insecurity plaguing parts of Riyom and other communities in Plateau State, calling on security agencies to intensify patrols and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Efforts to reach the spokesman of the Plateau Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, to comment on the incident were unsuccessful, as his phone indicated that it was switched off.

Expressing worry and concern, the President of the Plateau Youth Coalition, Ezekiel Peter Bini, lamented the killing of security personnel in Kanam Local Government Area, among other killings.

“If security agents who are supposed to protect us can be ambushed and killed, then what about us civilians? Our lives are now at the mercy of God.”

President of the Berom Youth Movement, Dalyop Mwantiri, warned that terrorists displaced from the North-East and North-West were relocating to Plateau State, targeting both Christians and Muslims.

He appealed to the international community for military intervention.

The group presented demands to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, urging him to forward them to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for urgent action.

President of the Berom Women Development Association, Ngo Esther Banga, highlighted the plight of women and children, saying, “We cannot stay freely in our homes or look after our children.”

The protesters regretted that Governor Mutfwang was not in office, as he, the deputy governor, and the Secretary to the State Government had travelled for a function.

They, however, vowed to return on Monday to present their grievances directly to the governor.

Plateau launches peace roadmap

Stakeholders in the state on Tuesday launched a landmark roadmap aimed at resolving conflicts between farmers and herders in the state.

This came even as gunmen on Tuesday night stormed Rim Village in Riyom Local Government Area of the state and killed two persons.

Almost 12,000 people have been killed in Plateau State over the past two decades, with over 420 communities attacked and thousands displaced.

The violence, primarily between farmers and herders, has led to widespread destruction and loss of livelihoods.

A fact-finding committee established by the Governor Caleb Mutfwang administration had attributed the violence to a mix of factors, including competition for land, historical grievances, and ethnic mistrust.

Speaking on Tuesday at the launch of the roadmap, which took place at the corporate headquarters of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency in Jos, the state capital, the Director-General of the agency, Dr Julie Sanda, represented by the Director of Programmes, Nantip Joseph, described the launch as a welcome development and a major step towards promoting peace in the region.

She emphasised the need to address the recurring tensions between farmers and herders, which had impacted many communities in the state.

“The focus has been on farmer-herder because that has been the narrative that has dominated the focus on Plateau State and other affected states.

“There has been a lot of conversation around this conflict between farmers and herders in Plateau, and through this launch, we must sustain the conversation with the aim of finding a solution to the issues,” the DG said.

Deputy Team Leader for SPRiNG, Priscilla Ankut, noted that the guideline was part of efforts to improve relationships between farmers and pastoralists, not just in Plateau but also in Kaduna, Benue, and Katsina states.

“Our programme is working to promote peace in the community and help them to develop resilience to climate change.

“Based on our research, we realise that some of the stressors leading communities to resort to violence are related to the use of natural resources, including land.

“We have seen that there is a lot of tension arising from the relationship between farmers and herders, and some of these things often go unaddressed.

“So our contribution to this, which is being implemented by HiiL, is a contribution that will help improve relationships between the farmers and the pastoralist groups on the Plateau,” Ankut said.

The Country Representative of the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law, Ijeoma Nwafor, explained that the guideline combined global best practices with localised research, involving stakeholders from farmers and herders to traditional and religious leaders.

“The document is different because we are sensitive to the fact that grammar is not the solution to the world’s problems. We have a lot of pictures to help,” she said.

Nwafor emphasised the importance of focusing on human experiences and communication in conflict resolution, saying, “Conflicts often arise from the stories we have been told from birth… What this document tries to do is bring people back to the human effect.”

The guideline, developed with support from HiiL and funded by the UK Department for International Development, focuses on accessible and affordable solutions to address land-related disputes.

Our correspondent reports that the guideline, launched in Jos on Tuesday, aims to equip community actors with tools to prevent and resolve land-related conflicts, promoting fair and transparent dispute management.