From Tongnaan Bawa,Jos
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has strongly condemned in totality the outbreak of communal clash that resulted in the destruction of properties and injuries among residents of villages bordering Langtang North and Mikang Local Government Areas.
In the wake of the violence that erupted on Saturday 23rd and Sunday, March, 24th 2024, Governor Mutfwang sympathies with the victims, denouncing the clashes as unnecessary and unacceptable.
He lamented that such acts undermine the government’s intensive efforts to foster peace and unity among citizens of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, with the collective aim of advancing the state’s growth and prosperity.
While expressing his dismay over the conflict, Governor Mutfwang underscored the importance of dialogue as the most civilized and effective means of conflict resolution.
He questioned the rationale behind individuals resorting to violence by taking the laws into their own hands, and also targeting innocent communities with arson.
The Governor however called on security agencies to respond decisively, and to hold the perpetrators and their sponsors accountable to the full wrath of the law. He also urged for swift mobilization to the affected areas to prevent any further escalation of the situation.
Governor Mutfwang further appealed to traditional, community, and religious leaders, as well as key stakeholders from the affected communities, to initiate dialogue and work towards an amicable resolution of the disputes in order to foster an atmosphere of harmonious co-existence.
Reaffirming his administration’s dedication to establishing lasting peace throughout the state, Governor Mutfwang said he looks forward to a united, tranquil, and thriving Plateau where all citizens, regardless of faith or ethnicity, support one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Also reacting to the incident
Commissioner for information and Communication, Musa Ashoms, sadly said the act of Communities killing each other was unfortunate
discribing it as “barbaric” the killing and burning of residential homes and food bans.
Ashom who was speaking in an interview with Journalists in Jos, on Monday, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Plateau State press center,
Said the clash involved eleven villages; “The clash is between the people of Ponlong Village of Mikang local government and Fungyalla of Langtang North.
Speaking on the devastating incident, Ashoms informed journalists that six persons died, eleven villages were involved, 30 persons injured, with 40 residential homes touched.
“Goverment is saddened at this barbaric act, how can people who lived together all their lives take up armed against each other, injuring and burning each other’s houses over a land that can’t produce six bags of rice?, as stated by the local government transition committee chairman yesterday.”
Ashoms however noted that normalcy has been restored in the affected Communities, as more security operatives have been deployed to the affected area to curtail further occurance.
“Currently there is more presence of security there, and we hope that peace will be restored permanently., We thank security operatives for a job well done.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of police in the state CP Hassan Steve Yabanet, also affirmed the deployment of more armed security operatives to the area.
A press release issued by the spokesman of the police command DSP Alfred Alabo, on Monday made the confirmation.
‘The Commissioner of Police, has ordered intensified patrol of the area and the immediate deployment of additional personnel from Area Command Langtang, 66PMF Shendam, Shendam Division and a detachment of Tactical Teams from the State headquarters to prevent any further occurrences of such incidence.”