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  • Protests in Plateau, Abuja over killings

    Protests in Plateau, Abuja over killings

    Crowds have marched through Jos and Abuja drawing attention to unending killings in Plateau State, reports YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU

    There was a note of exasperation when, for four days on end, gunmen raided a community, Bisichi, in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State killing about 20 people. After that incident, more bodies were recovered every day for a week. The event took place last month when United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was visiting.

    It was a stunning development coming after Fulani cattle breeders and Berom farmers made peace, returning stolen cows on both sides and pledging love for one another.

    That was why protesters took to the streets of Jos, Abuja and other strategic locations to urge action from the federal government, making the point that containing insurgency in the Northeast is as much an emergency as stemming the bloodbath in Plateau.

    The protest in Plateau lasted two weeks, featuring clergymen and state and National Assembly legislators.

    They said, “President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has, within his first 100 days in office, only concerned himself with the insecurity and humanitarian crisis in the Northeast without a mention of that of Plateau State as if those being killed on the plateau are sub-humans.”

    In Abuja, the protesters occupied Unity Gate for six days to welcome Mr. Ban with their posters. The next day, they moved to Transcorp Hilton Hotel where Mr. Ban was lodged. This was done strategically to draw the attention of the UN Secretary General to the humanitarian issues in Plateau State. Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Senator Dino Melaye, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Chief Imam of Abuja, Nuru Khalid convened the protest.

    Some of the protesers
    Some of the protesers

    Then, the protesters addressed the press and continued the action in Jos where they occupied premises of the state House of Assembly for hours and then Government House in Little Rayfield.

    One of the banners proclaimed,”To Break the Conspiracy of Silence on Killings on the Plateau”. Another urged: “President Buhari must give equal attention to North Central and North East”.

    Members of the state House of Assembly joined the crowd of protesters as they moved to Government House. The representative of Riyom Constituency Hon Daniel Dem led his colleagues in the protest, which featured green leaves.

    The Anglican Bishop of Jos, Rev Benjamin Kwashi was at the head of the protest too, appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently address the crisis.

    He said, “Plateau State was losing too many citizens to the endless deadly attacks. As a pastor, I have conducted more burials occasioned by attacks than weddings and naming ceremonies since 2001. It’s sad to note that most victims of the attacks are harmless children, some infants, women and youths; the present administration must end the killings, attention should not be concentrated only at the Northeast alone; people are being killed here in Plateau, Benue Nasarawa and Kaduna states.”

    “A sad event that revealed that life cost nothing in the state was the fact that four persons that were supposed to be part of the protest were attacked and killed by unknown gunmen in just 12 hours to the protest. Painful as that may be, the protest had to go on as planned, said Dr. Daniel Menshak.

    At Government House, Governor Simon Lalong warmly received the protesters, listened to their grief and promised to convey their message to President Buhari.

    In the Abuja protest, the spokesperson was Mrs. Kate Pam, who addressed Mr Ban, saying,

    “We bring you greetings from the traumatised men, women and children of Plateau State. The attacks on our villages started over 10 years ago by Fulani herdsmen whom we willfully gave our land as pasture for their livestock. Things got to a climax on the 10th March 2010 with the Dogo Nahawa massacre, where over 500 men, women and children were slaughtered in a cowardly dawn attack. From then on, we have had not known peace. Our tormentors have moved from village to village, killing, maiming, looting, shooting, burning.

     

    “From May this year, the attacks on our villages have increased in frequency and intensity. The people of Riyom and Barkin Ladi are worst hit. An average of 10 people are killed every week. On the 2nd of May 2015, 27 people were massacred in a COCIN church in Foron. Amongst the dead were the pastor of the church, Rev. Luka Gwom, and a young woman who only just got married two weeks earlier. Two days later 30 people were killed in Zakupang in Barkin Ladi LGA.

    “Another attack on Kakpwis village left two men dead. The villages in Barkin Ladi have continued to suffer these attacks, at least twice every week. On the 29th of May 2015, over 500 gunmen invaded Shonong village, leaving a trail of corpses, ashes and smoke. That attack left over a thousand people displaced with about 300 houses razed to rubble. The month of June has also been a nightmare for the people of Barkin Ladi and Riyom. Over 20 villages have been attacked in well-coordinated attacks. In the first 10 days of July, we have witnessed quite a number of attacks already”

    The Abuja protesters said in a statement, “You are all witnesses to the effort by concerned citizens of Plateau State to draw national and global attention to our plight, as we face the daily threat of total annihilation. For 6 days, we have occupied the Unity Fountain in the FCT – the symbol of our national unity – drawing the empathy of men and women of goodwill. We have however been unable to draw the attention of the Federal Government, and it is not because we have not tried hard enough. The decimation of a people, their land, and heritage should spark national indignation and criticism, but it has not, as yet. It is almost as if the Nigerian State is in denial of this humanitarian crisis, or perhaps it is a victim of inertia.

    “Over a decade, Plateau State has been the theatre of a series of crises, this is no longer news. But in the past few years and especially from the second quarter of this year, the rural communities in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas have witnessed sustained attacks from gunmen. The fury of these violent men is total. They kill and destroy everything in sight: men, women, children, the aged. At the last count, over 40 villages have been completely sacked and completely razed. Farmlands have not been spared. Thousands of acres of arable land have been destroyed.

    These attacks have left the people homeless, traumatised, living in abject poverty. The frequency, intensity and scale of these attacks have led us to the conclusion that this is a well thought-through, lavishly financed, and professionally executed act of terrorism.

    “While we feel that this crisis has been left to fester for too long, we hesitate to drop the blame at the feet of the federal government, even if it has jurisdiction over the entire security architecture of state. The silence of the victim has emboldened the victimiser. Our effort is aimed at breaking the cycle of violence by breaking the cycle of silence. But it is not only the victim and the victimiser that have been silent. The federal government has hidden its head in the sand, the state government is overwhelmed as its efforts have not yielded fruit as yet. There has been under-reporting of the seriousness of the situation by the media – print, electronic, online. It is almost as if these brutal killings are not happening, as if the people being killed are subhuman.

    “We also admit that we have not been quick off the block in speaking out. But it would be immoral not to do so with the recent turn of events. From May this year to date, over 300 people, mostly women, children, and the aged, have been slaughtered in several night attacks. Today, we buried Ibrahim Nyam and Jimmy Pam Pwat will be buried on the 1st of September. They were hacked to death by these evil men last week along the Barkin Ladi – Mangu highway. The death of these young men is perhaps a pungent reminder that we are all potential victims, for they were killed by the roadside, a route that we all ply almost always

    “Let us not be deceived that this is a skirmish between herders and farmers. Let us not also think that the problem can be wished away, or ignored. We are witnesses to how this started: a small night attack in 2001 on a remote village called Vwak in Jol ward was torched leaving over a dozen dead. Less than a decade after, 500 people were slaughtered in their sleep in Dogo Nahawa on the 10th of March 2010. From then on, the attackers have moved from village to village, killing, maiming, stealing, burning and destroying. At the last count about half of the local government areas in Plateau State have been attacked. Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Niger, Nasarawa also count their losses from these evil men. This crisis is about good people and bad people; about killers and victims; about innocent Nigerians from diverse backgrounds and deadly, bloodthirsty gunmen. We are all victims, or victims-in-waiting.

    “Ladies and gentlemen, it is pertinent to remind you that the insurgency in the northeast started with a few disgruntled persons who had nonspecific demands. Sadly, the Federal Government underestimated the size of the fight. Now Boko Haram is not only a national and regional security threat but a global threat to world peace. God forbid that we allow this monster to grow beyond containment before we begin to act. It is better to over-deploy resources in containing the situation while it is still localized, than to wait until more lives are lost before we begin to enjoy citizen protection as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    This crisis has left our people in dire straits. Schools and health centres have been burnt, teachers and health workers have left. Children of school age have lost a minimum of 4 academic sessions; the health needs of the people are unmet. A recent survey, with 1,500 respondents revealed that 73% of the women are hypertensive. This may not be unconnected to the psycho-social trauma occasioned by this crisis. Schools have been converted to IDP camps that have swollen in size due to the influx of more IDPs from the northeast. The wanton destruction of farmlands has place the victims without trade or vocation. The economic effects of this are far-reaching: depletion of source of livelihood and loss of economic land; the state also losses IGR accruable from the entire value chain of vegetables and grains. The beautiful scenery of the Plateau is no longer attractive to tourists, with attendant loss of revenue.

    Permit us to acknowledge the role of the security agencies in the state. Without the presence of the Special Task Force, the situation would have been worse. The bravery of the Nigerian military is commendable. This was demonstrated several times. Notably, we acknowledge their role in warding off the attack on Kwi village in July this year. We however call on the military authorities to cull the bad eggs amongst them. For these few unprofessional soldiers, life is for sale and the highest bidder curries their favour. We are aware that those arrested in the past walk freely on the streets now. It has been brought to our notice that about a dozen heavily armed men were apprehended this week by the STF and handed over to the police. We have it on good authority that the police is under intense pressure to release these men and to look the other way.

    After all, the protesters put up some demands on the federal government; “We call on the Federal Government to deploy military high-command centers to be stationed in strategic locations within the state, fully equipped with surveillance equipment and hardware. The centers should have a rapid emergency dial code, to facilitate quick communication and a helicopter and vehicles to shorten response time.

    We call on the Federal Government to issue an ultimatum to the Nigerian Army to end the mindless killings of innocent people, especially women and children in Plateau State within 3 months as applied to the northeast insurgency.

    “As a matter of priority, the STF should work closely with the local communities in information gathering and utilization. Many of these attacks would have been forestalled had the STF been looped into the informal communication network that the natives share. Allegations of impropriety by soldiers should be thoroughly investigated. This is one way to engender trust between the communities and their benefactors – the soldiers.

    “We call on NEMA to urgently live up to its constitutional mandate of providing first-line relief to IDPs who suffer incalculable deprivation, and are currently suffering the effects of an inclement weather. Mattresses, bed nets, beddings, water supply, food and toilet facilities are either absent or in short supply.

    “Victims of these attacks should be resettled, rehabilitated and compensated, in a similar fashion as planned for victims of terror attacks in the Northeast.

    We urge the Federal Government to profile and classify these attacks as acts of terrorism and to diligently prosecute all arrested attackers.”

     

  • Lalong to recover Plateau’s stolen funds

    Lalong to recover Plateau’s stolen funds

    •To complete critical projects initiated by Jang 

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has vowed to recover stolen funds and government property annexed or carted away.

    The governor spoke yesterday in Jos, the state capital, in a state broadcast marking his 100 days in office.

    He said: “Through the instrumentality of the law, we will immediately pursue the recovery of funds and government property carted away.

    “These include funds fraudulently siphoned through the instrumentality of state agencies for which works have not been done or have not reached the level of payments.”

    Lalong noted that setting up technical and professional audit committees would sustain the tracking and recovery of funds and their application to projects, programmes and institutions.

    The governor said his administration did not intend to witch-hunt anyone but to ensure probity, accountability and transparency.

    He said the challenges facing the state in the face were enormous, adding that his administration was committed to alleviating the suffering of the people of Plateau.

    Lalong said: “The enormity of the challenges that we are confronted with have left us with only one option of making quick fixes that will address basic human needs of the citizenry.”

    This, the governor said, would also guarantee the sustenance of a peaceful environment for good governance.

    He said his administration’s attention was focused on finding a lasting solution to the conflicts in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and parts of Jos South local government areas, which had continued unabated.

  • Plateau killings: Fed troops declare ‘gunrunner’ wanted

    Plateau killings: Fed troops declare ‘gunrunner’ wanted

    Federal troop on Plateau State crisis, code-named Operation Safe Haven (OP SH), have declared wanted a suspected gunrunner, Aminu Hanbane.

    The suspect, who is said to be on the run, is wanted for alleged cattle rustling, supply of arms and mastermind of various attacks in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

    Hanbane was declared wanted in a statement in Jos, the state capital, by the Media Officer of the federal troops, Capt Ikedichi Iweha.

    The statement said: “In keeping with the tradition of the Operation Safe Haven, Jos, by updating the residents …with developments as they occur, the OP SH states as follows:

    “Following series of operations conducted in the aftermath of the Bisichi incident, in which the Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Maj.-Gen. Tagbo Ude, moved decisively to prevent a relapse to violence in the state, the OP SH has declared the person whose photograph is here attached (Hanbane) wanted.

    “He is Aminu Hanbane. He is wanted in connection with cattle rustling, proliferation of arms attacks on communities in Barkin Ladi and Riyom areas. Anyone with useful information, which could lead to the arrest of the suspect and any known collaborators, is requested to come forward with such information to the headquarters of OP SH or any of its sector headquarters, especially at Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South local government areas.

    “Operation Safe Haven reiterates its readiness to respond to any act of criminality and all forms of threat reported to it promptly and assures the residents of their safety.“

    “It would like to solicit for information from members of the community in the discharge of its responsibility and assures that any such information provided would be treated with absolute confidentiality.

    “The OP SH reassures the public of its determination to protect life and property of law-abiding residents. We also continue to thank the people of our communities for their cooperation in providing prompt information to security agencies bordering on public safety.”

  • ‘Jang left N222.3 billion debt in Plateau’

    ‘Jang left N222.3 billion debt in Plateau’

    Plateau State government has accused former Governor Jonah Jang of lying to his successor on the state of indebtedness of the state.

    Senator Jonah Jang is representing Plateau North zone in the Senate, a seat he won after completing his terms.

    Jang handed over to Gov Simon Lalong, following the victory the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Simon Lalong.

    It was alleged that, in the handing over note the state was indebted to the tune of N103 billion.

    But, a transition committee that submitted its formal reports said the former governor lied in his hand over note.

    According to the report the committee headed by the deputy governor, Professor Sunni Tyoden, “the state of indebtedness of the state as at May 29, 2015 amounts to N222.3 billion.

    The reports reads in parts: “The hand over notes received from the proceeding government claimed the level of of indebtedness of the government was N103.9 billion as of May, 2015. Our findings put the figure at N222.3 billion.

    “What was left as credit in all the government accounts put together, was N93 million.

    While the outgone government claimed to have spent N8.6 billion on the new government house at Little Rayfield, our findings put the figure at N16.4 billion and work is still ongoing”

  • In Plateau, the killings return after respite

    In Plateau, the killings return after respite

    The killings that had held some communities in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State bound for long returned at a time it was thought that peace had finally returned to the area. YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU x-rays the renewed violence and the attendant humanitarian problems.

    The ongoing efforts by stakeholders, particularly the Plateau State Government, to restore peace in Berom land collapsed with another invasion allegedly masterminded by Fulani militia last week. This time, the centre of the bloodletting was Bisichi village in Foron District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. The invasion of the village resulted in the death of 10 Berom people, according to Bisichi Community Youth Leader, Mr. Mark Pam Bot.

    Narrating how the attack was carried out, Bot said: “This is not the first attack by Fulani militia in the locality. This time, the Fulani who are resident in the village went to hire some Fulani mercenaries from somewhere just to attack and kill Berom people.

    “Before now, there were reserved areas in our communities where we warned the Fulani herdsmen not to go to graze their cattle because such places are where our people perform their traditional rituals.

    “But each time the Fulani want to provoke an attack, they will go and graze their cattle in the forbidden areas. And each time they do that, they draw the anger of our people.

    “Our people have been warning them not to repeat the act, but because the Fulani are prepared for trouble, they keep going there.

    “You would realise that we also live with Hausa Muslims in the same village. But since they don’t rear cows, we are living peacefully with them.

    “The Fulani feel that no one can stop them from grazing. They also believe that nobody should restrict their cows from grazing.

    “But when they abuse the rules of the community and they are attacked, they vent their anger on our people in Bisichi village.

    “We learnt that they were attacked in Heipang for grazing in forbidden areas. We are not the ones that attacked them. But when they returned home, they launched an attack on us.”

    The Secretary of Fulani Cattle Breeders Association in Barkin Ladi, Adam Muhammed, however disputed Bot’s claims, saying that it was the Berom youths that came to surround Bisichi village to launch an attack on the Fulani residents, adding that it was the security agencies that rescued them from the attack.

    According to Muhammed, the Berom had killed seven Fulani people in the attack before the police came to their rescue.

    The accusations and counter-accusation notwithstanding, the conflict left in its trail some humanitarian concerns in the locality. Many victims of the violence writhe in severe pains at the Plateau Specialists Hospital in Jos.

    Curiously, all the injured victims in the hospital were Berom youths. One of them, a 19-year-old student of Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, was seeing wallowing in pains in the hospital, having been shot in the left eye which his loved ones feared might have been lost. After the last surgical operation carried out on the eye, they said, there was no hope that he would see again.

    Many Berom people lost their homes to the latest attack. No fewer than 30 residential houses were demolished allegedly by Fulani militia. Owners of the affected homes are already taking refuge in a primary school within the locality. A visit to the school revealed the pains that filled the hearts of the victims. Their condition becomes even more pathetic considering that the rainy season is at its peak in the state. Women and children constituted the majority of the refugees in the camp. They were seen crying for help and relief materials.

    At the hospital, an elder brother of the victim, Geofrey Chuwang, who was at his bedside, said: “The boy came home from school to collect money for food. He was already returning to school when he was shot.

    “He was being escorted out of the village to where he could get a motor bike. All of a sudden, an armoured vehicle of the Special Task Force was coming towards them, and before they knew it, the soldiers opened fire and a bullet caught the innocent boy in the eye.

    “It was yesterday that the doctors conducted the second operation on the eye. They were not sure if the boy would be able to see with the eye again. He was never a part of any conflict. He was shot at about 11 am on Tuesday.”

    Chuwang, who also witnessed the crisis at Bisichi village, said: “Most of the killings during the attack were carried out by men of the Special Task Force and armed Fulani men. While the crisis in the village intensified, some youths went to convey a 90-year-old man from the village to another village where he would be safe. But a stray bullet hit him on their way and the old man died immediately.”

    Reliving the violent incident, Bot, the youth leader of Bisichi community, said the same Fulani who hired mercenaries to attack our people were also the ones who lied to the Special Task Force that they were being attacked by the Berom. “In response, the STF mobilised to hunt for Berom youths, and without hearing from us, the soldiers opened fire wherever they saw two people standing while armed Fulani men went behind to attack some other villages.

    “I can tell you the truth that soldiers of the STF opened fire on three Berom youths. They killed two of them while the third one escaped with bullet wounds. The same Fulani people mounted road block on the highway and attacked every motorist they saw. They killed two other Berom students found in one vehicle. They also headed to a farm where they shot and killed one old man by name Markus Dung.

    “The truth is that the STF aided the Fulani in killing many of our people. Apart from that, the Fulani took advantage of the soldiers’ support to enter into our farmlands to destroy maize farms.

    “There was a case where we reported to security agencies that we saw an armed Fulani man grazing his cattle on a farm. The Fulani man took to his heel on seeing that soldiers were coming to arrest him. While he was running, the magazine attached to his gun fell down and the soldiers picked it up. It was confirmed that the magazine contained 56 rounds of ammunition.”

    Fulani community leaders, speaking through the Secretary of Cattle Breeders Association, also known as Miyeti Allah, Adam Muhammed, said: “The Berom are only lying so as to cover up their own actions. We had earlier reported that seven of our men were killed by Berom youths without provocation. That was the action that provoked the violence, because we cannot wait until the Berom had killed all of us.

    “If not for the security agencies, the Berom would have wiped out the Fulani from these communities.”

    Considering the weight of the attacks on their kinsmen, the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) has called on the Federal Government to ensure that justice is done over what they described as unprovoked attack in Bisichi village.

    A press statement signed by Chuwang, the President of the group, and the Secretary, Davou Gyang, demanded that those arrested by the STF in the course of the violence should be prosecuted for peace to reign in the locality and to serve as deterrent to others.

    The group said the militia Fulani did not only attack Berom homes and farms, they blocked the highway and attacked innocent travellers on Barkin Ladi Road. They alleged that at least 10 travellers were attacked and killed on the federal highway by some unknown gunmen last week in Bisichi village during the four-day carnage.

    The Berom youths also alleged that some Fulani headsmen suspected to have carried out the attacks on the highway were arrested by men of the Special Task Force (STF) code named Operation Safe Haven.

    The statement added: “We are seeking the intervention of the federal government in this case because very soon, the suspected militia caught by the Special Task Force will bribe their way and will be released and they will escape justice.

    “The federal government should make the STF to disclose the identity of the suspected terrorist group. Any attempt to allow them to go scot-free will attract serious protest across the state, because these are some of the unknown gunmen who attack us at night.”

    Dalyop noted that “while we commend members of the STF for this laudable feat, we wish to caution against any attempt to release these culprits without the law taking it full course on them. And any attempt in that regard shall be vehemently resisted within the ambit of the law.”

    The statement noted that, “Recently, 30 Berom Villages were razed completely and over 800 inhabitants of these villages killed. Among them were school principals, senior civil servants, farmers, traders, students and artisans who were ambushed in diverse locations while going about their legitimate duties, and over 500 inhabitants rendered homeless by the Fulani militias.

    “We wish to emphatically draw the Federal and Plateau State governments’ attention to these callous activities of the militias, which has over the years truncated the peace and serenity of Barkin-Ladi and parts of Jos South LGA without concerted efforts by the security outfits to thwart the persistent annihilation of the Berom nation by the heavily armed terrorists.

    “We wish to make it clear that we shall not continue to preach peace and harmony while we fold our arms and watch our enemies evict us from out territories, leaving us with the option of seeking refuge in other people’s lands. The government must live up to its task of guaranteeing security in all the troubled areas or else we seek possible ways of self defence and protection of our cherished heritage.”

    Meanwhile, the member representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Istifanus Gyang, has appealed to both the Berom and the Fulani to sheathe their swords for peace to reign in the constituency.

    Reacting to the renewed violence in the constituency, the federal lawmaker said: “Our internal peace effort is failing because of external factors. The invasion by militia men from outside the state is causing us serious problems. That is why we have some discordant voices on this crisis.

    “The discordant voices can be categorised into three: those who have objective understanding of the underlying ​factors and are genuinely desirous of finding a lasting solution; those who are ignorant and express their ignorance on the ​issue and those whose perspectives are informed by prejudice, sentiment, ​partisanship and hate.”

    He added: “In morality and in law, wrong is wrong and right is right irrespective of who does it or who it affects. That is why neither God nor law has respect for persons. I am therefore calling on all men of goodwill who are advocates of peace to join me in my commitment to rebranding Barkin Ladi-Riyom Federal Constituency of Plateau State from an axis of violence and bloodshed to one of peace and prosperity. May we rise beyond ethnic and religious sentiment and become advocates of national integration, peace and harmonious coexistence.”

    Hon Gyang also said: “My constituents who elected me, including Berom, Atten, Attakar, Hausa, Fulani, Ngas, Taroh, Mwaghavul, Ron, Idoma and Yoruba, they did so on the basis of a clear legislative agenda that gave primacy to the restoration of peace and security to the people. You can therefore only imagine the pain in my heart when the attacks and killings are persisting.

    “Options available to us in resolving this problem are twofold. The first is the deployment of conventional security of the military and police to vulnerable communities to protect law abiding citizens and end the attacks.

    “It was with this in mind that I raised a motion on the floor of the House and placed a demand on government under President Mohammadu Buhari, being the one that has the constitutional responsibility to protect every citizen, to issue a clear directive to the military high command to act decisively to end the attacks. Once this is done, it will create an enabling environment for the peace option to materialise.

    “We have elaborate peace architecture at the level of advocacy and practice by which we shall partner with state and non-state actors in constructive community dialogue towards the attainment of lasting peace through mediation, conciliation and healing of fractured relationships.”

  • Reinstated Plateau varsity VC vows to rebrand school

    The reinstated Vice-Chancellor of Plateau State University Bokkos Prof Danjuma Sheni, has said he will reposition the institution to enable it achieve academic excellence.

    He made the pledge when he was welcomed to his office by some of the students.

    Sheni was sacked last year by former Plateau governor Jonah Jang after only two years in office.

    But Jang’s successor Governor Simon Lalong, reinstated Sheni to enable the state-owned university achieve stability and academic success.

    “The task given to me by Governor Lalong was to make sure the school achieves academic excellence; hence, I’m going to initiate academic programmes to enable us achieve that set goal,” Sheni said.

    The university has since graduated two sets of finalists but the graduates have not yet been mobilised for the National Youth SDervice Corps due to the non-accreditation of their courses by the Nationa Universities Commission Sheni while addressing a briefing in his office at the school campus, expressed appreciation to Lalong for his love for the progress of the institution.

    He said: “As part of actions to reposition the institution, I will be conducting an audit of various section of the university to build confidence in citizens of Plateau and Nigerians which will address all contending issues facing the institution.”

    He constituted four committees – audit, finance and contract, security and academic.

    Sheni also suspended payment to  contractors, as well as salaries to new staff employed during Jang’s administration.

    Similarly, Sheni reinstated all deans and coordinators he appointed as at last September, asking them to resume at their various duty posts with immediate effect.

     

  • Plateau council chief makes big promises

    The newly appointed Chairman, Management Council of Shendam Local Government in Plateau State, Miskoom Alexander Naantuam has said he will make the council the envy of others in the state.

    He spoke at Government House, Jos shortly after being sworn in alongside 16 other caretaker chairmen.

    Naantuam said, “I had wished to rule my own local government so that I will use the opportunity to really transform [it], and now that I’ve got the opportunity, I will make real my dream.

    “I was a councilor in the local government for more than four years; that gave me the opportunity to know the basic challenges and potentials of the local government and since then I had wished that if I am asked to manage the affairs of the local government I will change the fortunes of the locality.

    “Now that God has made my wish to come to light through this appointment, it is time to execute my dream and vision to my local government, I will make sure I create a peaceful environment for development to take place in all sectors.

    “Basically, the governor that gave us the appointment has told us in clear terms that the All Progressives Congress-led administration in the state is on a rescue mission considering the neglect suffered in the past, hence I will go with that sense to rescue my people from poverty and under-development; it is obvious that our people are deprived.”

  • ‘Tribunal set to ruin APC in Plateau’

    The Danburam Langtang 11, Senator John Shagaya, has decried the National and State Houses of Assembly Tribunal sitting in Jos for devious manipulations aimed at destroying the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) stronghold in Plateau State.

    In a letter to the APC Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in relation to his petition against Lt.-Gen. Jeremiah Useni, Shagaya said he had fore knowledge of the plan to massively rig in the state by the former Governor, Jonah Jang, in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), when he influenced the posting of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to Plateau State.

    To prove that the judges presiding in his Plateau South senatorial battle with Useni have been compromised, especially given the hostile attitude of the judges towards his counsel, Shagaya in his letter to Odigie-Oyegun highlighted the following:

    “My application for additional witnesses was refused by the tribunal. The witnesses subpoenaed by the tribunal were refused testimony on the basis that they were agents of the petitioners and therefore need not be subpoenaed notwithstanding that by the order of court, their witness statements on oaths were already filed in court.

    Tribunal passed uncomplimentary comments on counsel to the petitioners for applying for subpoena after the application to call additional witnesses was refused.

    “The over 17 witnesses on August 6 were turned back home, though they had their subpoenas issued by the tribunal.

  • Peace returns in Plateau?

    Peace returns in Plateau?

    In Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, renowned for ethnic volatility, the Fulani found a herd of cattle abandoned by armed rustlers in Tafan village and returned the animals to their Berom owner. Also, in Kamam, another community in the council, the Berom chanced upon some wandering cows presumed left behind by thieves and handed them over to their Angas owner.

    Such gestures are rare in the council where suspected Fulani often raided Berom communities often on allegations of stealing cows.

    The new show of love between the tribes has been described as a significant departure from the past when cow rustling could never be traced and what normally followed were violent attacks by so-called unknown gunmen.

    Is the new fond feeling a sign that the bitter rivalry is over?

    The Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis code-named ‘Operation Safe Haven’ coordinated the recovery of the rustled cows and their handover to the owners. Commander of the Sector 7 of the STF in charge of Barkin Ladi, Col. Charles Ekulide handed over the stolen animals to their owner.

    Col. Ekulide said, “When the owner of the cows alerted us that his cows had been rustled, we immediately informed the various Fulani community leaders to help look out for such cows. The cows were later discovered by the Fulani people and they contacted us. We then went there to recover the cows.

    “No suspect has been arrested so far; the criminals just abandoned the cows at Tafan village between Barkin Ladi and Riyom. But recovering the cows does not mean we will allow the criminals to go free.”

    The Secretary of Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Barkin Ladi chapter, Muhammed Adamu said, “Our people just saw some cows wondering without anybody with them; we immediately alerted the STF and they came to discover that they were rustled cows. We had to ensure these cows were returned to the owners because it is the kind of criminal activities that bring about conflicts, and we want peace in the local government.”

    The proprietor of Ndang Farms, Joshua Ndang said, “I have only 59 cows and over 40 rams. The criminals came to the farms to remove all the cows and rams. I reported the incident to the STF, and…I am really overwhelmed they have solved my problems.”

    In Kamam village, where a herd of 53 cows was also recovered by the Berom people, head of the community, Da Pam Dusu said, “I was at home when some children ran to me to inform me that they saw some cows roaming about without the owner, so I came out to see the cows and I asked the youths to ensure they gather the cattle in one place. Then we contacted the STF.

    “We decided to cooperate with the STF to recover the stolen cows because we have been enjoying a fine relationship with the Fulani in this village.

    “We used to hear of attacks in some places, so we have warned our children and our youths not to create problems for us by going after Fulani cows.”

    Owner of the recovered cows, Kawu Muss said, “My 23 cows were stolen by armed men…but because of the cordial relationship between us and the communities, the boy informed the [community] and they mobilised themselves and followed the boy to the direction of the gunmen. So, when the gunmen noticed that the vigilance group was coming after them, they abandoned the cows and fled into the bush.

    “I have discovered that our resolve as a community to live in peace with the Berom as we used to be is yielding results, because since the Berom people can rise up to help the Fulani recover our stolen cows, I can see that the renewed peaceful coexistence is working well, and I hope it shall remain so.”

    The newfound love between the Berom and the Fulani could be traced to the peace initiative of the Simon Lalong administration, which has made peace in Berom a priority. The governor has also been personally coordinating reconciliatory meetings between Berom and Fulani leaders.

    In one of those meetings, Lalong admonished both tribes to embrace peace, pleading with them to cease hostilities forthwith.

    Governor Lalong also directed the immediate composition of a 14-member committee made up of seven representatives from each community. The committee was to receive the recommendations of other bodies set up to proffer a solution to the violence which has claimed no fewer than 300 people in the last two years.

    Lalong equally directed the Police Commissioner, Special Task Force and the state security outfit, Operation Rainbow, to ensure the enforcement of law and order in the communities.

    The government is committed to peace. Are the Berom and Fulani?

     

  • Buhari orders probe of Jos gas explosion

    Buhari orders probe of Jos gas explosion

    President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a thorough investigation of the chlorine gas explosion in Jos, Plateau State at the weekend, which killed and injured many people.

    In a message of commiseration to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Plateau state over the incident, President Buhari said that an investigation into the incident was necessary to avoid recurrence.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said: “The investigation should unravel the facts as to whether this was just an accident.”

    “Whatever is the case, we need to get to the bottom this unfortunate and tragic incident,” the President said.

    President Buhari prayed that Allah should grant the souls of those who lost their lives in the explosion peaceful repose and grant a quick recovery to those who were injured in the terrible tragedy.