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| Sen Jang |
PLATEAU KILLINGS:
JANG SUPPORTS CALL FOR SELF – DEFENCE, URGES LALONG TO STAND WITH THE
PEOPLE
By Udanta Ugante
25th June, 2018
The Senator Representing Plateau
North in the Red Chamber in the National Assembly, Jonah David Jang has decried
the role of the armed forces in the killings of innocent natives of Plateau
stressing that that the mode of operations and responses to attacks on Plateau
State is worrisome and capable of causing massive apathy and loss of confidence
by the citizens. In a statement signed by Clinton Garuba, his media consultant,
Jang added that the armed forces continued to attract controversies and
accusations of complicity as clearly noted by notable statesmen like General
T.Y. Danjuma (Rtd). He noted, “At this juncture, elder Danjuma’s call for
self-defence may become the only option considering the situation in Barkin
Ladi where people were left at the mercy of killer herdsmen who had the time
and space to maim, kill and destroy to their satisfaction without any notable
challenge by the military formation in the state”.
The Senator further expressed his
deep sense of grief and genuine indignation and condemned in strongest term the
barbaric killing of over 200 people in Gashish District, Razat, Rukunyarr and
Gana Ropp all in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State by
suspected Fulani herdsmen. He lamented that the continuous killings were fast
becoming a coordinated attempt at genocide aimed at annihilating the natives
and to steal their God’s-given heritage. The statement added that as one who is
particular about the welfare and well-being of the people, the Senator’s heart
is with the families of all those who have been deliberately and mercilessly
separated from their loved ones for eternity.
It added that at a time the
government of the State was boasting of creating an island of peace, it was a wonder
where the island was located.
“Surely, our towns and villages around the
State where people are attached and killed in their sleep, on their farms, and
on rural roads almost on daily basis are not part of that island. It is quite
unfortunate that despite all the valuable lives we continue to lose, the
government on the Plateau as led by Governor Simon Lalong is still living in
denial. How many Plateau lives must be violently ended before the Governor
realizes that the peace he claimed to have brought on the Plateau is imaginary?”,
stated the statement.
Sen. Jang said that to address the
threat herdsmen now pose to the very existence of Plateau State as it is meant
to be, opined that Governor Lalong must display an uncommon will to stand with
Plateau people for the fortification of the State from external aggression and
attacks and further urged him to stop playing politics with the security
situation of the State, as according to him, “there is no gain in proclaiming a
peace that only exists in dreamland while people are being killed on the
Plateau.”
Jang further advised Lalong to
consider reviving the Operation Rainbow by funding and equipping it for
intelligence gathering and swift response to incessant attacks on the State.
The statement concluded thus. “While calling
on those confronted with eminent threat of annihilation at the hands of wicked
Fulani herdsmen to be vigilant, steadfast, courageous, and creative in
self-defence, the Senator shares in the pain and hurt in the minds of the
people of Plateau State, and assures them of his commitment to the security,
longevity, and prosperity of the State”.
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