Insecurity: Plateau Lawmaker Demands Urgent Action As Attacks Intensifies.

The member representing Barkin Ladi State Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Dickson Chollom, has raised the alarm over what he described as unabated and coordinated attacks on communities in his constituency, calling for urgent government intervention to protect lives and property.

Chollom made the call on Wednesday during plenary in Jos while moving a motion under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, saying the security situation in Barkin Ladi had deteriorated to the extent that the local government is “literally on fire.”

According to him, since the recent attacks, almost all districts in Barkin Ladi had witnessed what he described as coordinated attacks, with farmers, local vigilantes, miners, traders and clergy among those allegedly ambushed and killed.

He said several communities have been thrown into fear, with houses reportedly burnt despite measures including the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and the ban on motorcycles imposed by the State government to curb insecurity.

The lawmaker said security alerts were often received before attacks occurred, but expressed concern that the attacks still take place despite the existing security architecture, leaving residents vulnerable in their homes and communities.

Chollom also raised concern over the collapse of a section of a major access road linking affected communities, saying the damaged stretch of about 100 to 200 metres has become a critical challenge to the movement of residents and the rapid deployment of security personnel during emergencies.

He warned that the insecurity was also threatening the livelihoods of residents, particularly farmers, as many people are unable to access their farms. He said the destruction and abandonment of farmlands could worsen the economic situation of communities even beyond the immediate security crisis.

The Lawmaker further called for the immediate occupation and full operational deployment of security personnel to a constructed and commissioned security facility in the area, arguing that its strategic location could improve security coverage along vulnerable corridors.

Chollom appealed for stronger cooperation between the Federal Government, Plateau State Government, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders, stressing that the protection of human life should remain paramount regardless of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.

He also urged the House to mandate the Plateau State Ministry of Works and relevant agencies to undertake emergency remedial work on the collapsed bridge and restore the access route to facilitate security operations and reduce response time during attacks.

Contributing to the debate, the member representing Mangu South State Constituency, Hon. Dr. Matthew Kwarpo, expressed support for the motion and said Mangu South had also continued to experience attacks, with several people reportedly killed in recent days.

Kwarpo called for deliberate measures to protect communities facing insecurity and supported moves by the House to strengthen the State’s security architecture, including efforts towards the domestication of the Police Service Bill, while urging government to take concrete action beyond repeated expressions of concern over attacks.

Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Naanlong Daniel who presided over the plenary, appreciated the lawmakers contributions to the motion and urged the Clark of the Assembly to forward the prayers of the motion to the appropriate authorities for urgent action.