Plateau communities urged to be security conscious at all times

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Raymond Gukas, Jos

The Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives (PIDAN) has instructed communities in the state to monitor suspicious movements around them and report same as killings of innocent citizens was being intensified by criminal elements.

The body said this in a statement, signed by its President Prof Aboi Madaki and Secretary General, Comrade Nanle Gujor where it expressed sadness over the killings of innocent persons suspected to be fulani marauders.

The organization, which is the umbrella body of all the indigenous ethnic development associations in the state, further stated that the people must work in harmony with the security agents for success to be recorded.

However, PIDAN, used the occasion to expressed worries on the indiscriminate arrests of law abiding citizens, stressing it is opposed to such and called on the authorities to investigate the unlawful acts and punish the perpetrators who are aiding the crisis situation..

It said, “While we frown at the involvement of people who engage in criminal activities, we are however worried at the indiscriminate arrests of some Traditional Rulers and people, without proper investigation.

“We appeal to security personnel to always undertake thorough investigations, before making any arrest. The recent arrests and detention of people in Panyam, in the aftermath over the alleged missing of an Ardo; has the capacity to create and or breach the peace of the communities.

“We are also saddened by the activities of wicked herdsmen for their continued unlawful grazing, especially at Kwi and Jol, where crops are destroyed. We call on Security agencies to save our farmers and prevent the looming food crisis if the actions of the perpetrators is not

PIDAN then expressed appreciation to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Remi Tinubu, for visiting and identifying with state, where she donated N500million to 500 families affected by the activities of bandits. It appealed to the state government to appropriately dispose the money without any divide.

The statement further commended Col US Abdulsalam, for his frantic efforts, on resumption of duty in the State, and urged him not to relent on any steps aimed at the restoration of peace and peaceful coexistence in the area of his coverage.

“We urged him not to relent on any steps aimed at the restoration of permanent peace and peaceful coexistence. We urge other Sector Commanders to emulate him. Our people are ever accommodative and peaceful, but they should not be taken for granted,” it stressed.