Dear Nigerians, Fellow Youths, Ladies and Gentlemen, esteemed Members of the Press, we thank you for joining us this morning.
The Forum of Plateau State Youth Council (PYC) Chairmen of the 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau State is addressing this Press Conference in the light of the recent spate of unprovoked attacks, atrocities and well-orchestrated genocide being carried and sustained on the People of Plateau State by Fulani Militias. The situation in Mangu, Bokkos, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bassa LGAs of the State is deeply distressing, marked by attacks, destructions, land grabbing, that demand immediate national and international attention and intervention.
These terror attacks have resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, displacement of Communities and destructions of property worth billions of naira. The relentless wave of violence, with innocent civilians bearing the brunt of these heinous acts orchestrated by the Fulani militia must be halted.
We call on the President of the of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately declare the Fulani militia a Terrorist Group and order the Military and all Security Forces to go after them with full lethal force in Plateau State and work towards the restoration of peace in our State. Mr President should give a marching order for the rebuilding of the villages in Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bassa that are in ruins as a result of the barbaric acts of these terrorists and ensure the safe return of all displayed persons.
On the eve of Christmas, the 24th December, 2023, over 17 villages in Bokkos LGA were again attacked by the rampaging Killer Fulani Militia. This very attack resulted in the gruesome murder of over 200 innocent men, women and children, maiming of hundreds and looting and burning of property worth millions of naira.
Again,The Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Barr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang had to declare a 24 hours Curfew in Mangu Local Government Area on the 23rd January, 2024 following the deteriorating security situation in the area. Despite the 24 hours Curfew imposed by His Excellency, the Fulani Militia defied the Curfew and attacked Kwahaslalek and some surrounding communities, killing no fewer than 25 persons and burning countless property on Wednesday, 24th January, 2024.
All these attacks are aside the isolated killing of our youths and people in their farms in the affected Local Government Areas. Our Youths cannot go to their farms and where they manage to cultivate their farms, Headers graze on these farms, destroying the crops cultivated.
How long shall this carnage and dastardly acts continue? We say enough is enough!
Affected Villages in Mangu LGA include; Kantoma
Jwak Maitumbi
Murish
Farin Kasa
Dungmunaan
Fungzai
Washna
Gaude
Aloghom
Gudum
Derkong
Nchiya
Ruvwang
Bwai
Kulben
KwaghasLalek
Mairana
Bureh
Tul
Ligit Lubang
Sabon Layi
Sabon gari
Tyop
Ligitlubang
These and a lot more villages ranging to more than 45 villages that are affected are all districts of Mwaghavul extraction of Mangu LGC alone without the details of other Native Communities in other mentioned LGA’s totalling over 50.
This is to underscore the GENOCIDAL pattern of these terror attacks.
Our Dear President, take action in accordance with the Oath of Office you swore to protect the Lives and Property of Nigerians no matter their faith or religion. You must not allow terrorists to hold ransom the RENEWED HOPE you promised to Nigerians. The people of Mangu, Bokkos, Riyom, Barkin-Ladi and indeed all the LGAs in Plateau State are being killed and their property destroyed. Our people are living in perpetual fear and intimidation.
Mr President, we are not BREATHING, we are not only being suffocated, but we are dying! We need your immediate attention and intervention to STOP THE KILLING ON THE PLATEAU!
Equally, the international community cannot stand and watch idly while innocent civilians suffer and lose their lives due to the senseless terror butchering going. We call on the international community to come to our aid in addressing this genocide and the humanitarian crisis that has been occasioned.
We are also calling on the International Community through the United Nations to help us and end this Genocide on the Plateau. We call on the International Criminal Court to focus its attention to Plateau State with a view to identifying actors for prosecution.
To all Patriotic Plateau Youths, this is the time to drop any toga of political coloration and unite to protect our “Plateau Heritage” which has been under siege, deliberate and continues attacks since the return to democracy. From 2001 under Sen. Joshua C. Dariye, it continued under Sen. Jonah David Jang, persisted under Rt. Hon. Barr Simon Bako Lalong and refreshed under the new Government of Barr Caleb Mutfwang.
While we look forward to the immediate intervention of the President and the international committees, we encourage our Communities to continue to seek ways and efforts in protecting their ancestral heritage.
We also want to take this moment to warn those behind this incecesnt killings, burning down of houses and destruction of farmland all In the name of making the state ungovernable for for the Government of Plateau State to achieve their selfish political goals, to as a matter of urgency desist from such as the youths are on a thorough investigation anyone found involved in this mehem the youths will never take it likely with them and their co-travelerz
On a final note, we call on all Government agencies saddled with the responsibility of attending to victims of disaster and attacks to as a matter of urgency attend to so many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in these Communities attacked in Mangu, Bokkos, Riyom and Barkin-Ladi LGAs of Plateau State. All persons arrested in connection with this attacks should be prosecuted and all persons making inflamtory statements in the social media should be arrested and prosecuted in line with the laws of the land.
We call on the Military and other Security Personnel in the affected Local Areas to be civil in their relationship with the civilians and locals. Plateau people are peace loving and will continue to support peace initiatives.
BUILD THE YOUTH, BUILD THE NATION!
DESTROY THE YOUTH, DESTROY THE NATION!
