• Bokkos youths accuse soldier of indiscriminate arrest
From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Hell was let loose in Plateau State on Friday as protesting Bokkos women burnt down the house of 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 that the incident occurred around 12:30 pm.
The women reportedly razed the house following what they described as 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 indigenes as a result of two Fulani corpses found by unidentified persons.
An eyewitness 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 minutes later they set it ablaze.”
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 the alleged bias of the security operatives. The Youth President, Christopher Luka Tullademw, alleged serious human rights abuses by the military.
He said: “While we still mourn the death of over 200 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 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.”
Meanwhile 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, Nde Jika Golit, held at Pankshin Township Stadium on Friday, Mutfwang said as the closest government to the grassroots, traditional institution holds the key to resolving the age-long crises on the Plateau.