Equity International Initiative, a Youth led Non-governmental Organization has called on the Federal Government, particularly the National Assembly to expedite action in the facilitation and passage of a law for the creation of State Police in order to ensure swifter response to security challenges across Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of Equity International Initiative, Ambassador Chris Iyama lamented that the present security architecture in the country makes Governors Chief Security Officers of their states only on paper, but puts the power to control the Police and Military in the hands of the Federal Government. Hence, as the first respondents in security situations in their state, there was need to put some level of control of security in their hands in order to save lives.
Ambassador Iyama disclosed this during a press conference held in Jos on Tuesday 30th January 2024, over the killing of innocent persons, including women and children in Mangu, Bokkos and other LGAs of Plateau State between December 24th and January 28th 2024. Some surviving victims of the unfortunate attacks were present at the the briefing.
According to him “These events columnated in the unfortunate killings of at least 230 innocent people within just a month. What is most painful about these unfortunate killings is that people were preparing to celebrate Christmas and in the dead of the night, they were slaughtered. The enemies of humanity slaughter women, children and few weeks old new born babies.”
He also expressed worry that during that attacks, the communities were left without any help for hours “What is more worrisome is that these attacked went on unabated for hours without restrain from security agencies or anyone else. As an organization we condemn this unprovoked attack on humanity, regardless of the reasons behind them. There is no justification for the killing of innocent people at night in their sleep.”, he said.
He called on government at all levels to do the needful in ensuring that the perpetrators are arrested and made to pay in accordance with the law. “We are aware that the Plateau State Governor does not command troops to make arrests, hence we are calling on the National Assembly to expedite action and pass the law to enable for the creation of State Police so that Governors can take swift actions considering that they are the first respondents in the event of any security problems.” he added.
Iyama also called for the immediate compensation of communities “We wish to also call for immediate initiation of modalities to compensate communities whose property and farmlands were destroyed, thereby creating huge implication for food security and scarcity in the coming days.”
Iyama also expressed concerns over current and impending food shortage in Nigeria considering the huge food supply that has been cut of as a result of the destruction of farmlands in the large farming area “This is because the communities attacked are one of the largest farming communities in Plateau State and Nigeria at large”, he added.
He also expressed worry that the attacks occured unattended to, inspite of the visit of the federal government led by the vice president earlier in the month and security security chiefs to the affected local governments and communities, yet no significant progress has been made with security in the affected areas.
According to Ambassador Iyama, the excuse by the military claiming that the communities attacked were inaccessible were laughable, he wondered why election material got to those areas but security interventions don’t.
He appealed to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) to demonstrate by actions the “Renewed Hope” he promised Nigerians in order for the people of Plateau State to enjoy the relative peace they enjoyed before the advent of his administration.
The President of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM), Sunday Dankaka who also spoke at the press briefing, while commending the efforts of the military however called on the military to always be diligent in collaborating with critical stakeholders in order to give out the right information to the public.
He said for instance the military had recently claimed that the recent security breach in Mangu was ignored by attempted cattle rustling.
Recall that Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, in a media briefing with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, said the crisis is rooted in an incident of cattle rustling last Monday in the community.
And added that the Mangu crisis was caused by cattle rustling and the killing of a Wagungun man who was riding his motorbike when he suddenly collided with cattle on January 22, 2024.
The Youth President however said that that information was inaccurate. He introduced a young man at the briefing known as Ebenezer Caleb who was the “…Wagungun man…” bike man alleged to have been killed. He also revealed that the death toll of the recent killings within within Mangu Town and environs so far stood at 91, these included women and children who lost their lives.
“PRESS BRIEFING BY EQUITY INTERNATIONAL ON THE KILLINGS IN MANGU, BOKKOS AND OTHER LGAS IN PLATEAU STATE BETWEEN DECEMBER 24TH 2023 AND 28TH JANUARY 2024
GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS,
It has become expedient to address you today given very sad series of unfortunate events that have occured Mangu, Bokkos and other Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
These events columnated in the unfortunate killings of at least 230 innocent people within just a month. What is most painful about these unfortunate killings is that people were preparing to celebrate Christmas and in the dead of the night, they were slaughtered. The enemies of humanity slaughter women, children and few weeks old new born babies.
What is more worrisome is that these attacked went on unabated for hours without restrain from security agencies or anyone else. As an organization we condemn this unprovoked attack on humanity, regardless of the reasons behind them. There is no justification for the killing of innocent people at night in their sleep.
We wish to call on government at all levels to do the needful in ensuring that the perpetrators are arrested and made to pay in accordance with the law. We are aware that the Plateau State Governor does not command troops to make arrests, hence we are calling on the National Assembly to expedite action and pass the law to enable for the creation of State Police so that Governors can take swift actions considering that they are the first respondents in the event of any security problems.
We wish to also call for immediate initiation of modalities to compensate communities whose property and farmlands were destroyed, thereby creating huge implication for food security and scarcity in the coming days. This is because the communities attacked are one of the largest farming communities in Plateau State and Nigeria at large.
We are particularly concerned about these attacks because they seem to be targeting our Christian communities and Churches, this to us is an attempt to systematically annihilate our brethren in Plateau State. We fear that this is nothing but pure act of terro and genocide against the plateau people and the nation at large.
We call on security agencies to live up to their responsibilities in protecting innocent and helpless citizens.
We are deeply concerned that these attacks occured unattended to, inspite of the visit of the federal government led by the vice president earlier in the month and security security chiefs to the affected local government and communities, we have not recorded significant progress with security in the affected areas.
According to reports, most of the communities are not accessible and these are the claims of the military and other security agencies. The claims that most of the communities affected are not accessible laughable and the same time heart breaking because we wonder how election materials get to those places during election and anytime the politicians are seeking for their votes. Our security agencies have no other business but to secure lives and properties.
We’re calling on the federal government and security agencies to intensify efforts in securing the lives of our brothers and sisters in the under served and under protected Communities.
We’re calling on Federal Government and security agencies to immediately reclaim and secure all abandoned farm lands, and abandoned homes so that all the farmers who left their ancestral lands can feel safe to return to their communities and their farm lands.
We are also calling on the the National Emergency Management Agency to intensify humanitarian support to all the affected communities.
Our appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) to demonstrate by actions the “Renewed Hope” he promised Nigerians in order for the people of Plateau State to enjoy the relative peace they enjoyed before the advent of his administration.
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Ambassador Chris Iyama ,
Equity International”
Nigeria Star News 