From Yakubu Busari,Jos
President Buhari with Governor Simon Lalong during a recent visit by the governor to the Presidential Aso Villa
The President of Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives- (PIDAN ),Dr Madaki JK Aboi has condemned the resurgence of incessant attacks on communities by herdsmen on Plateau people, wondering whether the state is under siege from the herders serial attacks
The PIDAN, the umbrella organisation that coordinates the activities of autochthonous communities development associations on the Plateau, says it is worried and sad with the continued resurgence of incessant and serial attacks of communities on the Plateau by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In a press statement signed by the President Dr Aboi over the weekend in Jos, the Plateau state capital, he said “it is highly condemnable the resurgence of attacks that was first noted on the eve of Mr President’s visit to Plateau in Daffo in Bokkos LGA, continued in Irigwe land in Bassa over the weeks and finally extended to Dong Kasa in Jos-North with the one in Dong on March 22, which left three persons dead
“We however note that the systematic execution of the attacks, the increasing number of casualties and the progressive destruction of ready-for harvest dry season farmlands in the affected communities with great concern.
“We are forced to ask that given the current scenario ‘Is Plateau State under siege by the Herdsmen?’ ,
While we condemn these series of unproved attacks in all its entirety, we call on appropriate government agencies and security operatives make concerted efforts to put a stop to this wanton destruction of lives and property”.
“We commend the steps taken so far by government to stern the attacks and call on it to foot the medical bills of the injured and provide logistics, through SEMA to those who survived the attacks in the three communities of Daffo, Irigwe and Dong Kasa to enable them reintegrate well and quickly”. the statement reads .
“We are aware that Nigerians living on the Plateau are very religious and neither the Bible nor the Qur’an equates the life of an animal with that of human being”, Dr Aboi says.
“We however find it difficult to understand why a Herdsman will kill a farmer or any person under the pretence of cattle rustling.”
