Fight against insecurity not targeted at ethnic groups, religion – Plateau governor

Plateau State governor, Caleb Mutfwang, said his government will not target any ethnic group or religion in its fight against insecurity.

Mutfwang made this promise on Monday while speaking on a news program on Africa Independent Television (AIT).

The new governor of Plateau said this while giving updates on last Tuesday’s attack in some villages in the Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state which left 15 people dead.

“Every inch of Plateau land is very dear to us and I can promise you that we will fight to protect it and that is irrespective of tribe or faith,” Mutfwang said.

“It is important to us but I want to say that we are particularly lucky to get Brig-Gen. Gakji Shipi (rtd) as a special adviser on security.”

Plateau State has been under siege by terrorists since the beginning of the current democratic dispensation.

In some instances, no fewer than 100 people were killed in a single midnight raid.

In one of such attacks, several houses were burnt and farm lands destroyed, leaving the people impoverished and their ancestral lands occupied by their assailants.

The raid of Mangu, where the new governor, Mutfwang, hails from, is one of the worst attacks in recent times.

No fewer than 200 people, mostly children and women, were cut down in their prime.

Meanwhile over 20,000 inhabitants of about 10 communities are presently languishing in various Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, churches and other public places.

Mutfwang in his inaugural speech on May 29 expressed determination to face the state’s security challenges head-on.

He lamented that much blood has been spilled on the Plateau for more than two decades and this had affected the pace of development.

“The genocidal attacks of the last couple of years suffered by many of our communities across the whole state have justifiably left deep wounds and trauma on several widows, orphans, relatives and friends,” he said.

“This has in turn bred hate, mutual suspicion, misplaced anger toward innocent passersby and so-called reprisal attacks.

“Unfortunately, this has opened the door for those who dislike our unity and prosperity to label us as hateful and unaccommodating when indeed our people are the victims.”

Mutfwang said the time had come, and the time is now, when the people of Plateau State must say enough is enough.

He said his government must break this vicious circle of hate and attacks and refuse to allow people to brand his people negatively because that is not who they are.