A group known as Global Society for Middle Belt Heritage has alleged that Two Hundred and Seventy Six 276 people were killed in the recent attacks on thirty Nine (39) Villages in Plateau State.
The group made the allegation today during a World Press Conference held at TEKAN headquarters in Jos, Plateau State capital.
President of the group, Comrade Jerry Datim who read text of the briefing which was jointly signed by him and the Secretary, Mr. Ringsum John also alleged that the attacks has forced thirty thousand survivors into Internally Displaced Person’s (IDPs) Camps across the state.
The group also alleged that children of both Primary, Secondary Schools and some students of tertiary Institutions in the affected local governments have missed their examinations especially Junior NECO set up for Junior Secondary Schools JSS3, the ongoing Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) and also the tertiary examinations due to forceful migration of the locals to the various IDPs camp spread across the state.
The group accused the Fulani militia of carrying out the well coordinated attacks where lives, farmlands and other properties worth millions of naira were destroyed with the aim of land grabbing.
Also, they alleged that the marauders looted food items, building materials, fertilizer and Animals like Goat, Sheeps and Chickens belonging to the locals and sold them in some markets.
The group went on to make the following demands during the briefing, “We demand the immediate withdrawal of military from all checkpoints and replace them with mobile Police (Mopol) and this means the immediate removal of the GOC/STF Commander.
“The Fulani should vacate our ancestral land with immediate effect. SEMA and NEMA should come to the aid of those displaced immediately. We want our people to be returned to their ancestral land with immediate effect because they are agrarians (farmers).
“While waiting for the vacation of the Fulanis from our ancestral farm lands, any subsequent attack on any community now henceforth, the Ardos will be held responsible for harboring the assailants.
“The Federal Government should see to the welfare and security of the over thirty thousand (30,000) displaced persons scattered across the state. We are calling on the Plateau State traditional council to find a lasting solution to this attack and occupy tactics which is known as land grabbing”. Said the group.
The group appreciated the Police, Department of State Security DSS, for what they described as their ethical sincerity, transparency and professionalism in handling the situations.
They also appreciated Plateau ethnic, nationalities, sisters states for sympathizing with them, the Executive Governor, House of Assembly and Traditional Council for being proactive towards the issue and also the media.
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