The Plateau State House of Assembly on Tuesday constituted
a special committee to investigate the wanton killings and destruction
of properties in some communities.
The lawmakers blamed security operatives for the recent killings
and urged the citizenry to device means of defending themselves.
This followed a motion presented at plenary by Hon. Simon Kudu, member representing Rukuba/Iregwe constituency.
Some communities in Bassa and Bokkos Local
Government Areas have been under serious attacks by gunmen suspected to
be Fulani herdsmen in recent times.
Kudu who described the attacks as, “one too many” lamented that people no longer go to their farms for fear of being lynched.
“Mr speaker, it is not longer news that some of parts of our state in the last two months have been under siege.
“People are being killed on daily bases, houses razed down and properties worth billions destroyed.
“Thousands of people are rendered homeless; they become refugees in their own land.
“People can’t to go their farms for fear of the unknown and if
nothing is quickly done, everybody in this state will be killed,” he
said.
Contributing, Hon. Peter Ibrahim of Barkin Ladi constituency,
described the spate of killings as very” pathetic”, hence the need for
proactive measures to be taken.
Ibrahim who condemned the attacks, called on the people of the state to device means of defending themselves from the attackers.
“I am calling on our people with a loud voice to sleep with their
eyes open, keep vigil and defend themselves from the attackers,” he
said.
On his part, Hon. Ezekiel Affon, representing Pengana constituency
blamed the inability of security agencies to contain the situation or
make any arrest in that regard.
According to him, the security agencies had failed woefully in terms
intelligence gathering, hence their inability to bring the attacks to an
end.
“I think our security agencies have failed in their duty particularly on intelligence gathering.
“Before these attacks are carried out, the perpetrators must meet to hatch the plans on how to carry out their evil plans.
“We have security personnel spread in all the nooks and crannies of
the state, yet, they haven’t unravelled those behind the crime
“So, I think the strategy the security agencies are using are
obsolete and there is the need to adopt modern and more effective ones,”
he advised.
After much contribution from members, the House resolved to set up a
special committee to investigate the killings with a view of bringing it
to an end.
The committee is expected to liaise with the executive arm of
government and security agencies so as fashion better ways of curbing
the incessant killings.