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… Bokkos youths accuse soldier of indiscriminate arrest
… Traditional rulers key to resolving crises – Mutfwang
From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Protesting Bokkos women on Friday razed down the house of the District Head of Bokkos town in Bokkos Local Government Area of the state, Saf Adanchi, Michal Monday Adanchi.
Our correspondent gathered from a source in the area, the incident occurred around 12:30 pm.
The women were said to have reduced the house to ashes following what they described as the indiscriminate arrest of some youths in the community for their alleged involvement in the recent killings in the area.
“The women were said to have first marched to the police station, where they expressed their anger over the arrest of some members of the community.
They also staged a protest march to the Special Task Force (OPSH) command in Bokkos to register their displeasure over the serial arrests of Bokkos Indigent on the heels of two Fulani corpses found dead by unidentified persons.
An eye witness said, “After leaving the police station, they proceeded to the house of the traditional ruler, protesting that he was a responsible for the arrest of the youths. After getting to the house few few minutes later they set it ablaze,” the eye witness said.
Meanwhile youths of Bokkos have accused the soldiers sent to restore peace to the area of indiscriminate arrest of only Christians.
The Bokkos Progressive Youths in a statement lamented bias of the security operatives.
Youth President, Christopher Luka Tullademw, alleged serious human rights abuses by the military.
The statement read, “It is with pain in our hearts that we write to address you concerning the continuous violation of Human Rights by the military sent to foil the attacks that started on 23rd December 2023 in Bokkos Local Government of Plateau State, Nigeria.
“Since the sad event happened, we have witnessed continuous arrest, detention, and brutalization of victims who managed to escape the horror of the attackers. In most cases, these victims have suffered incapacitation and bullet wounds from the same army who are supposed to protect them.
“The rate of this violation has taken a dramatic dimension since Wednesday 3rd January, 2024 with the continuous dehumanizing and brutal treatment meted out on our youths(All of Christian Faith and IDPs) on account of a corpse suspected to be a Fulani found somewhere. While we condemn all criminality in whatever guise, we are quick to mention here that the manner of operation by the military seems to target a particular faith.
“While we still mourn the death of over two hundred people in Bokkos ( All of Christian Faith) over the attacks the military in Bokkos failed to contain, even when they had prior intelligence from the Governor of the State (As mentioned by Sen. Abdullah I Ningi on the floor of the National Assembly), the failure to make any substantial arrest even after it happened is a matter of concern to us.
“We are shocked to see the manner of dehumanizing and brutal treatment meted out to these innocent people over the alleged killing of a Fulani. We are forced to ask these questions:
“How many terrorist (of whom their faith is known to you) have you arrested and dehumanized like this over the genocide in Bokkos?
“Is a Fulani’s life more important than other Nigerians?
“When has the Nigerian Military ceded its role of protecting territorial integrity to arrest and incapacitation of innocent civilians?
Arrest and investigation is purely a Police affair. They should quickly excuse themselves and allow police to do their constitutional duty.
“What happens to the military gadgets and equipment meant to assist in times like this? Are they all not in good condition at the time of these attacks?
And they can only be available when possibly it’s the other way?
These are questions that demand answers.
“We are fast losing our confidence in the Nigerian Military to be fair to all.
Again, we must add that these attacks happened in our villages, currently, our people cannot access their farms to irrigate their farms, we thought the military would have carried out clearance operations in those villages so that people could at least access their farms, but the issue is the reverse.
“The concentration of the military is in Bokkos town, showing their might on the victims of attacks while the remnants and crops of the victims are either looted or burnt by the terrorists.
“Given the above, we call for the following:
“The President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Senate, Sen. God will Akpabio, National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. C.G. Musa, Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to immediately direct the release of those incarcerated by the military and order for the treatment of those the military incapacitated (some were last seen with various degree of gunshot injuries and handcuffed in JUTH under the watch of the heavy military)
2. The President should set up a high-powered committee to investigate the numerous cases of human abuses by the military and punish those found culpable.
In a related development, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, has tasked traditional rulers to ensure that there is peace in their domain.
Speaking at the coronation and presentation of staff of office to the new Ngolong Ngas, His Royal Highness Nde Jika Golit, held at Pankshin Township Stadium on Friday , Mutfwang said as the closest government to the grassroots, traditional traditional institution holds the key to resolving the age long crises on the Plateau.
He said, “This occasion is unique and very dear to my administration, as we all know the traditional institution is vital to the preservation of our cultural heritage and the promotion of our co-existence as a people who share a common identity.
“The traditional institutions have a critical role to play in strengthening inter and intra community relations which is essential for the protection of our communities against invaders. It is against this background that my administration places high premium on traditional institutions in the state because of the enormous role they play in safeguarding their domain as well as the promotion of peace, stability, and harmonious co-existence among the people.
“We value the continuous maintenance of the norms, traditions, and practices that serve the greater interest of the people.
“You are all aware that almost a decade ago, God the creator in His divine way called home the late Ngolong Ngas, Nde Joshua Dimlong of blessed memory, to eternal glory to join his ancestors. This loss created a vacuum and by the special grace of God, a successor who will take over from where he stopped emerged in a peaceful process.
He expressed his government’s determination to resolve all lingering litigations that have brought setbacks to some communities so as to enable government fill the vacant stools that are left in some parts of the state.
He tasked the traditional ruler to preserve the sanctity of the revered stool in trust for his people while charging all Plateau people not to allow their ethnic, political, and religious differences to divide them.
