JUST IN: Plateau Assembly Gives Gov. Lalong Two Week Ultimatum To End Killings

Governor Simon Lalong has been given two weeks by the Plateau State House of Assembly to tackle the state’s security issues.

When he briefed media in Jos, Philip Dasun, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, conveyed the legislators’ position.

Mr Dasun stated that following the two-week deadline, the assembly would know what to do next.

“As an assembly with people at heart, we call on Plateau citizens to have confidence in us with renewed commitment.

“We have given two weeks to the governor to take action on the resolutions the House has forwarded on security matters and how to restore peace.

“We call on the Governor Simon Bako Lalong to come up with a statement defending us as a people and to bring back renewed commitment to the cause of Plateau.

“We strongly call on Plateau people to practically stand up and defend themselves and their communities, as the conventional security design is no longer guaranteeing our safety as a people,” he said.

The head of the committee also urged traditional rulers to look inward and release a local security plan to protect Plateau residents, as well as strengthen vigilance, hunters, and local wise men to defend them.

He said the Plateau State House of Assembly had directed all local government Chairmen to suspend their planned recruitment of Adhoc teachers and instead recruit 200 vigilante personnel in each local government area to boost and augment local intelligence gathering as a sign of commitment to the urgent need for people to protect themselves.

The legislator urged security personnel to apprehend the culprits of the mayhem and prosecute them in accordance with the law.

“On behalf of the Assembly, I wish to sympathise with the government and Plateau people on the barbaric and dastardly killings that have been taking place in different communities in the state.

“I sympathise with communities in Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Jos North, Jos South, Mangu, Riyom, University of Jos community and recently that of Yelwa Zangam.

“The House condemns all these killings in totality, all these killings are unacceptable and condemnable.

“We commiserate with the families of all those who lost their loved ones during these attacks,” he said.

In his remarks, Nanbol Daniel, Chairman of the House Committee on Health, asked people to safeguard themselves while not breaking the law.

Mr Daniel stated that the Plateau Assembly has decided that victims of the attacks should be compensated by the Plateau government.

The head of the health committee stated that legislators would continue to keep the public informed about their attempts to restore peace in the state.

After years of relative peace, the Plateau has seen a resurgence of inter-ethnic conflict.

Since the onslaught began, alleged Fulani herdsmen have slaughtered dozens of farmers and civilians in villages around the Miango Chiefdom. Farms and homes were also obliterated.

Many people have been killed, according to the Irigwe Development Association, and at least 250 homes have been burned down by the marauders.

Twenty Muslims returning from an Islamic program in Bauchi were ambushed and slain near Rukuba road in Jos North Local Government Area in an apparent retaliation.

Fulani militia, according to Miango Youths, has been pillaging communities and killing residents since then.

Citizens have accused Governor Lalong of being meek in the face of his people’s escalating deaths.

(NAN)