Jonah Jang, former Governor of Plateau State, has emphasized the pressing need for the federal government to prioritize the establishment of State police as a crucial step in bolstering security measures.
He highlighted the necessity for swift responses to crises and the persistent killings within Plateau, facilitated by the lack of apprehension and prosecution of perpetrators, emboldening them to continue their atrocities.
Expressing condolences to families affected by the Christmas Eve attacks in Bokkos, Mangu, and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas, Jang lamented the distressing incident’s impact on the state’s peace.
In a statement conveyed by Clinton Garuba, his Media Consultant, Jang stated, “This dastardly act has once again tampered with the peace of our dear State as it was orchestrated by people who are hell-bent on ensuring that the ordinary Plateau man does not enjoy the serenity God through nature has bestowed on him. Choosing to murder harmless villagers in their homes as they prepared to celebrate the yuletide is the most horrendous wickedness that anyone could imagine.”
He continued, “None of the hundreds of our people who lost their lives in the Christmas Eve attack by marauding terrorists envisaged that their lives would be cut short in such a gruesome manner. Villagers in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Riyom and Mangu LGAs have continued to bear the brunt of terrorists who seem to have sworn to dispossess them of their heritage at all costs. That these killers are out on a cleansing agenda and plan to take over the lands of the people they try to wipe out is no longer hidden.”
Highlighting the need for urgent action, Jang stressed the necessity of implementing State police to enhance security measures and address the escalating insecurity.
He urged the National Assembly to prioritize this issue, considering it an urgent matter in the interest of the people of Plateau.
Jang emphasized, “As painful as these killings are, equally hard and painstaking efforts must be made to put an end to them to restore Plateau to its known peaceful atmosphere which made it home to many people, even in decades past. While we agree with the President that the culprits must be apprehended and made to face prosecution, we must note that these directives have been issued repeatedly. Yet, neither arrests nor prosecutions have been made in the past.
In conclusion, he affirmed, “The killings have assumed a dimension where inhumanity seems to have overtaken humanity but whatever the intentions and purposes of the terrorists, Plateau will survive, thrive and stand tall as the home of peace and tourism. May Plateau State succeed.”
