•••Urges FG to Accelerate Efforts to Establish State Police
Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Youth associations from several indigenous ethnic groups in Plateau State have called on the Federal Government to prosecute perpetrators of recent attacks in the state and accelerate efforts to establish state police.
The calls followed renewed violence which they said has claimed at least 50 lives within one week.
The groups said the attacks, which occurred in Riyom and Bassa Local Government Areas, also forced hundreds of residents to flee from their homes, leaving many displaced persons and unable to return to their communities.
Their position was contained in a communiqué presented during a joint press conference in Jos by the Afizere, Anaguta, Atakar, Aten, Berom, Irigwe, Kulere, Mushere, Mwaghavul, Pan and Ron Youth Associations.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, said victims deserved justice through the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attacks.
“The first relief, thevictims deserve is justice, but they have not received it. Those behind these attacks must be identified, arrested and prosecuted.
“The second is improved security. We witnessed relative peace after the deployment of personnel of the Department of State Services to one of the affected local government areas. Their intelligence-driven operations made a significant difference before the recent resurgence of attacks,” he said.
Mwantiri described conditions in displacement camps as difficult, noting that although the Plateau State Government had begun constructing 100 housing units for displaced persons in Bokkos Local Government Area, many victims remained unable to return home.
He commended the state government for facilitating the deployment of security personnel and providing humanitarian support, but said additional measures were needed to help affected communities to recover.
The coalition urged the Federal Government to deploy more Department of State Services operatives to vulnerable communities, arguing that intelligence-led operations had proven effective in improving security.
The groups also backed the proposed creation of state police, calling on the National Assembly to expedite consideration of the legislation and urging President Bola Tinubu to assent to the bill without delay when passed.
They further recommended that traditional rulers play a key role in the recruitment and screening of personnel for the proposed security outfit.
The groups also called for stronger intelligence gathering, sustained humanitarian assistance and the safe return of displaced persons to their ancestral communities.
