Governor Lalong of Plateau State
By Raymond Gukas, Jos
A day after after security concerns were raised by the Plateau our Heritage, (POH), in a government reserve in the state, another socio-cultural group in the state has expressed worry over continuous killings in parts of the state.
The POH reacted on newspaper reports indicating the presence of “alien” Fulani herdsmen in Pandam Game Reserve in Quan Pan local government area of the state and called on the authorities concerned to rise up to their bidding.
While the National Council of Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives, (PIDAN), issued a communique after it’s Council meeting in Jos, the state capital said it is worried that the state was facing serious security concerns, lives and properties have been lost as a result of that.
According to the Council in its communique, signed by Prof Aboi Madaki; President and Comrade Nanle Gujor, Secretary General, “suspected Fulani herdsmen in the LGAs of Riyom and Bassa” indicate that locals are in dire need of government protection.
Also, the “spades of kidnapping of law abiding citizens particularly in Bassa, Jos-North and Jos East LGAs largely linked to activities of Fulani herdsmen” was disturbing.
The PIDAN said it appreciates the peace process put in place by the State Government, Council but also urge it to redouble it’s efforts at stopping the continued marauding activities of Fulani herdsmen so as to curb further killings and kidnapping.
“The national leadership of all autochthonous Development Associations with PIDAN should equally compliment government peace building efforts by engaging in pragmatic dialogue with local Fulani leadership and other civil society groups to establish and it exist strengthen community driven peace processes in their respective domains to address the twin evil of killings and kidnapping”, it said.
Earlier, the POH had in a press statement signed by Hon. Alex Kwapnoe, Chairman and Hon. Pam Ayuba Dangwong, Convener said it was alarmed that the people in Pandam are complaining of the influx of fulani herdsmen and thier household into the “Pandam Wildlife and Game Reserve “
Chairman of Quan Pan, Hon. Abdulmalik Yusuf Haruna first raised the alarm of illegal occupation of the game by suspected fulani and because of the crisis a similar invasion of a forest reserve in the southern part of the country had generated, the POH task the government to stem the tide in the interest of peace.
