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SaMBA demands recovery of 102 communities annexed by Fulani in Plateau

Plateau

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

The Southern and Middle Belt Alliance (SaMBA) has asked Governor Simon Lalong to embark on immediate recovery of the 102 communities annexed by armed Fulani herdsmen in Plateau State from 2001 till date.

The group further requests that the governor issue an express order for the jihadists to evacuate the annexed communities forthwith.

SaMBA in a statement signed by Rwang Pam Jnr. on Sunday, December 5, 2021, fumed at the continuing invasion of Plateau communities by Fulani militia since 2001 and demand that the state government should uphold justice for the people of the state who have suffered from Fulani land grabbing and other crimes for many years.

The statement by the SaMBA Spokesman noted that four local government areas have suffered most from the invasion of Fulanis Militia since 2001 namely, Barkladi, Bassa, Bokkos and Riyom Local Government Areas.

The statement reads, “SAMBA is saddened by the development in Plateau State and is therefore throwing its full weight and total support for the petition submitted to the Plateau State governor on 26th November, 2021 by the Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria (ECCVN) and its collaborating associations of Atakar Development Association (IDA), Berom Educational and Cultural Organization (BECO), Irigwe Development Association (IDA) and Ron Kunlere Development Association (RKDA). The petition is anchored on the Plateau State Anti-Land Grabbing Law”

The statement added that “a situation where aborigines and natives of Plateau State are sacked from their ancestral homes and ejected from IDP camps is morally disturbing, globally condemnable and totally unacceptable”

The petition listed the 102 communities that have been taken over by the armed Fulani herdsmen in the state and grieved that nothing has been done to chase the illegal occupants out of those areas affected by the invasion.

SAMBA stressed that “it is therefore imperative for the state government under the leadership of Governor Simon Lalong to act as a matter of urgency by declaring a state of emergency on the recovery of those lands.

The governor must issue an express order of evacuation of all illegal occupiers and users of lands, dams, ponds, streams, homes, and other properties because peace can only reign when the issue of justice is addressed by the state government and its agencies.”

“Without justice peace will continue to be elusive in Plateau State”, the statement concluded.

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Ihesiulo Grace

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