In a decisive move to reclaim communities overrun by terrorists, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has directed a census of residents in affected areas.
The governor made this known on Saturday during a visit to the Tyop community in Mangu Local Government Area.
Highlighting the alarming security situation where 64 communities are under terrorist control, Mutfwang condemned the displacement of indigenous people and called for proper documentation of all residents.
“I want a census of people living in this place (Tyop community). When they built their houses, who gave them permission to build their houses? We cannot afford to be lawless,” he said.
“Let me make it clear, any district head that allows people to settle within the district without proper documentation of who they are, that district head knows that he will dance to the music that will follow accordingly.”
The governor described the occupation of ancestral lands by unauthorized settlers as an intentional strategy to impoverish the people.
“We will not allow this nonsense to continue. We have to be law-abiding. We cannot be lawless. This kind of arrangement where indigenous population are chased out of their ancestral homes is an arrangement to keep our people in poverty and we cannot accept it.”
Calling for peaceful solutions, Mutfwang urged security agencies to step up.
“We want everybody to live in peace. We welcome people who want land to build houses, but there is a procedure which must be followed,” he said.
“You can’t just come from nowhere and start building houses in the middle of nowhere. It is not done anywhere. Worse still, people were chased out of their homes; you take it over and occupy it. This is not right.”
“This is not correct. So, we need to engage these people, and I want us to do it as peacefully as possible because we can’t continue to allow this kind of story to continue to repeat itself.”
During his visit, Mutfwang also toured other attacked communities in Bokkos Local Government Area, including Hurti and Daho, where he met with internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Disturbed by their dire conditions, especially among women and children, he urged them not to abandon their ancestral lands.
The governor encouraged community youths to stay focused and take up the responsibility of safeguarding their heritage.
“President Tinubu has extended his condolences and stands with you in the quest for peace and justice,” Mutfwang said.
“We are here to witness firsthand the devastation caused by these acts of banditry. This village recorded one of the highest numbers of casualties in this coordinated act of terrorism and genocide.”
“I’ve come not just to sympathise but to assure you that this government stands firmly with you,” he stated.
“We must rise above our differences, unite as a people, and resist the agenda of division. God did not make a mistake by planting you in this land. The government will do its part, and I urge the youth to play their role.”
At the St. Thomas Apostle Catholic Church in Bokkos, where many IDPs are taking shelter, Mutfwang expressed grief over their suffering and commended the church for its humanitarian support.
He promised swift action to resettle the displaced.
He also visited a mass grave where victims of the recent violence were buried, pledging to erect a memorial in their honor. A prayer session was led by Reverend Gideon Para-Mallam.
In his remarks, Raymond Alo, the District Head of Manguna, thanked the governor for his support and disclosed that some attackers are known to locals.
He appealed for greater efforts to secure federal intervention and rebuild the devastated communities.
