• Tasks bodies on economic potential, alternative funding

Suspected terrorists have killed no fewer than nine persons in a fresh wave of attacks across Barkin Ladi and Riyom local councils and neighbouring communities in Plateau State, forcing women and children to flee parts of Dorowa Babuje and surrounding areas.

Victims of the latest attacks, which occurred between Saturday night and Sunday morning, included a cleric and another person who were reportedly attacked on their way to church at Dorowa Babuje in Barkin Ladi Local Council Area, as well as two other residents killed in separate incidents in Riyom and Fan district.

In another incident, no fewer than three herders were reportedly killed on Sunday evening in Kassa community of Barkin Ladi Local Council Area of Plateau State, according to the Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the council, Abubakar Gambo.

He added that two persons sustained injuries in the attack that occurred as the victims were transporting cattle in a vehicle from Bokkos to Kara cattle market in Jos South Local Council Area.

Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said they have overseen the disbursement of the N1.5 billion humanitarian assistance to 1,579 victims of violent attacks in five local councils of the state.

Confirming the killings, the National President of Mwaghavul Development Association, Bulus Dabit, and the spokesman of Berom Youth Moulders, Rwang Tengwong, called on security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.

Also, Gambo told newsmen that the herders were on their way from Bokkos when the gunmen opened fire at their vehicle, adding that three occupants died and their corpses were evacuated by the personnel of Operation Enduring Peace, while two others sustained injuries and have been hospitalised.

The intervention comprises N1 billion donated by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu through her Renewed Hope Initiative and N500 million contributed by the Plateau State Government, while beneficiaries were drawn from Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bassa local councils.

Speaking at the disbursement exercise, Yilwatda, who acknowledged that no amount of money could bring back lost lives, urged the beneficiaries to invest the funds in rebuilding their livelihoods through farming, petty businesses or other income-generating activities.

Also, Mutfwang said the combined N1.5 billion assistance could provide immediate relief but not replace lives lost or erase the trauma suffered by victims. Nevertheless, he said the funds would help the affected families to begin rebuilding their lives.

He pledged that his administration would ensure that the intervention reached those genuinely affected, and would continue working towards creating conditions for internally displaced persons to safely return to their ancestral homes.