Herdsmen Killings: Plateau women took to peaceful rally, says IDP camp on the increase

A Group under the umbrella of Daffo Mangai Women Association, Plateau State on Thursday in Jos took to peaceful rally to the Plateau State House of Assembly appealing to government to help resettle the growing number of Internally displaced persons (IDP) camps back to their ancestral homes.

The women also alleged that government has abandoned them since their communities was attacked and about 30 persons killed during the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the State on March 8, 2018.

They were led to the Plateau State House of Assembly, by one Mrs. Matawal Comfort Malan, who also said food crisis is awaiting Plateau State as famers are being killed on daily basis by herdsmen and their land taken over forcefully.

Malan said adequate security should be deployed to the affected communities as the rainy season holdsway aimed at enabling famers to produce more crops.

“The 2018 rainy season has commenced, any further delay in ensuring that these villagers return to their ancestral homes and farmlands would create severe food shortages and debilitating poverty. Sufficient food, clothing and other necessities of life should be urgently supplied to us to reduce our suffering and enable us face life with ease”.

Mrs. Malan explained that 1017 houses were razed down, livestock, household appliances, vehicles, water pumping machines, electrical generating sets, assorted foodstuff and cash sum of money and valuables worth millions of naira were destroyed and looted by the Fulani herdsmen.

She lamented that thousands of school children are out of school, losing study time due to insecurity and facing threats of being drag into various social vices and government has not make any frantic efforts to addressing the situation.

“Our cries with regards to the devastating carnage that occurred between January 24 to March 8, 2018 which started from Nghakudung and spread to 7 villages leading to 32 deaths, 10 severe injuries while 7,000 persons were displaced in 9 villages and 10 persons are still missing up to date.

“Presently, about 7,000 persons comprising of women, children and the aged are faced with the most threatening state of healthcare, destitution, poverty, hunger and food insecurity as a result of the violent displacement during the attacks”, she said.

Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Azi, who received the two groups at the Assembly complex in Jos, said they are operating on the same frequency with the groups and vowed to submit their petition to the appropriate authority and ensure that their recommendations are implemented.