Lalong meets with Plateau community leaders over killings

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau on Monday held a peace meeting with key stakeholders in Bokkos Local Government over fresh killings in the area.

The meeting was part of efforts to restore peace following recent attacks in the area on Nov. 16.

Speaking at the meeting held at Government House, Lalong frowned at the community leaders inability to identify the perpetrators of the crimes.

He said that the government had taken steps to end the security challenges in the state.

According to him, it is left for the community members also to look for lasting solutions to end the crisis.

He said nothing was worth taking the lives of people while calling on farmers to report any damage done to their farms to relevant authorities.

The governor, while calling on the residents to live in peace with one another, said that he would continue to uphold justice and fairness in the discharge of his duties.

He stressed that relevant authorities were still investigating the killings to bring the perpetrators to book while reiterating government’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to the security problems bedeviling the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Nov. 16, Maikatako village in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau, was attacked by gunmen leaving nine people dead and seven others injured.

Speaking at the end of a closed door session, Mr Philip Julson, National President, Butura Community Association, said that they had resolved to live in peace and harmony and reconcile their differences.

Julson called on government to deploy more security personnel to flash points across the area and increase surveillance at boundary areas.

Similarly, Ardo Shanono, Daho District leader in the area, urged the governor to ensure that those unleashing the attacks were dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land.

Shanono said that resolutions reached at the meeting would go a long way in reducing the security problems in the area.

Mr Joseph Lengmang, Director General, Peace Building Agency, regretted that the local government area had yet again faced with security challenges.

Lengmang said that with the resolutions made in the meeting and government’s commitment in ending the attacks, the festering crises in the local government would end.