The Plateau Scholars and Researchers Forum has appealed to well meaning individuals, groups, communities, and organizations within and outside the State to assist those recently displaced by the farmer-header clashes in the state.
Chairman of the Forum Prof. Danladi Atu who made the appeal at a news conference in Jos said any assistance in whatever way possible will enable them come out of the traumatic doldrum to a stable life regime.
“Our prayer for the injured, the traumatized, and those who suffered some material losses, is that God in His infinite mercies should intervene in their plight, and provide healing and succor”.
He also called on various government at all levels particularly the Federal Government to expedite action on coming out with realistic solutions to this clashes as a lot of criminalities are being carried out under the guise of Farmer-Herder conflicts.
According to him, this conflicts have further been driven by armed banditry; settling of personnel scores amongst groups and individuals, cattle rustling, land grabbing and security impersonation.
Prof Atu explained that there is need to review the security architecture of the country, adding that Governors need to be empowered constitutionally to oversee the security agencies of their respective States, particularly the Nigerian Police Force and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“They are the political leaders and Chief Security Officers that come face to face with the emergent conflict signals in their various States but lack the capacity to take urgent steps to stem the tide early enough”.
The Forum condemned the attacks and harassment of government officials, civil servants and assault on the Executive Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Barr. Simon Bako Lalong and his entourage including his Deputy, Professor Sunny Tyoden, which they described as politically motivated.
Prof Atu said this condemnable episode is a clear pointer that some highly placed politicians are bent on making the sate ungovernable as some of them have claimed.
“It further affirms the narration that some political leaders have taken advantage of this ugly trend to perpetuate their political agenda. This is highly uncivilized, unpatriotic and treacherous of the highest order. We view this action as a wild goof attempt to torpedo the ship of State for selfish political reasons”.
“They were on official assignment to Internally Displaced Peoples camp (IDP) for and on behalf of the Government and people of the State. Although, so many official vehicles were damaged and some wounded, the Governor in his wisdom prevented his security officials from counter attack for purposes of defence, so as not to compound the scenario”, he added.
“For us, it is disheartening that the number one citizen of the State duly elected by the people to be assaulted in this manner is unacceptable. An assault on the Governor and his Deputy is an assault on the people of Plateau State who voted them into office”.
The Forum therefore plead with those behind the conflicts to desist from further deliberate attacks on the people in the name of farmer-herder upheavals, adding security agencies should intensify efforts at fishing out the perpetrators of this evil and dastardly act so as to serve as deterrent to others in future.