Plateau Youths Group Uncovers Plot By Fulani Herdsmen To Attack Local Communities

Posted by African Examiner Agabus Pwanagba, Latest Headlines, News Monday, August 17th, 2015

By Agabus Pwanagba, Jos –A group under the aegis of Berom Youth Moulders Association has raised an alarm of the plot by the Fulani herdsmen against the natives of Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South LGAs of Plateau State, alleging over 800 inhabitants cut across 30 villages have been killed in the last one year.

The group made this known in a press statement issued Monday by its President Choji Dalyop Chuwang and Publicity Secretary, Davou Gyang Jatau and made available to AFRICAN EXAMINER in Jos, the State capital.

It reads, “It is no longer mythical but factual that the Fulani herdsmen who are on Jihad mission are resulting to forceful ways of occupying the Berom enclaves by way of eliminating the natives to achieve their long ill agitation for grazing reserved areas as the most recent height of terrorism speaks volumes.

“With the eviction of over 30 villages of Sopp, Jol, Hweigwe, Sho, Rakun, Ropp, Kassa, Banghai, Shonong, Gashish, Rim, Kafi Abu, among others, were razed down completely.

“In the last one year, over 800 inhabitants of these villages have been killed, amongst whom are notable personalities to include School principals, Senior Civil Servants, Artisans, who were ambushed in diverse locations, while going about with their legitimate duties and over 500, 000 inhabitants rendered homeless by Fulani militias.

“It is well established that the Beroms are hospitable people, accommodating, generous and law abiding to have hosted people from diverse ethnic groups spread across the Federation for centuries, but it is rather appalling that our resounding virtues have been taken for granted and likened to weakness, foolishness and complacency by our guest turned aggressors.

“Most awful of these ugly scenarios is the recent cosmetic peace dialogue we engaged in with the Fulani Community by Plateau State Government on the need to explore all possible avenue to live peacefully; this we felt was a genuine platform of search for peace and reconciliation but we are always left in utter shock of our lives as they (Fulanis) attacked us (Beroms), after every dialogue session, clearly depicting their quest for peace as mere lip service”. The group lamented.

It regretted that the quest by the Fulanis to conquer their people, has led to their attackers hiring mercenaries from unknown destinations, confirming some of the mercenaries were last Tuesday and Friday arrested by men of the Special Task Force of Sector 7 in Barkin Ladi LGA of the State.

“While we commend members of the STF for this laudable feat, we wish to caution against any attempt to release their culprits without the law taking its full course as any attempt in that regard shall be vehemently resisted within the ambits of the law” the group restated.

It described their attackers as “special propagandists, who after committing these evil acts, take undue advantage of their political acquaintances to raise false alarm in the media, portraying themselves as disadvantaged just to attract unwarranted sympathy.

“In the light of the foregoing, we wish to make it clear that we shall not continue to preach peace and harmony while we fold our arms and watch our enemies evict us from our territories, leaving us with the option of seeking refuge in other people’s land” it vowed.

The group called on Government to leave up to its task of ensuring security in all troubled areas, “or else we seek possible ways of self defence and protection of our cherished heritage”.