Lalong’s aide resigns as gunmen kill 10

The Special Assistant to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Makut Mashat, has resigned his appointment over what he described as the lackadaisical attitude of the governor to security issues in the state.

Mashat, who was the Information Communication Technology Assistant (ICT) to the governor, said the present government has failed the citizens.

“The major task of government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens. Our government has failed us. Our traditional rulers have failed us. Our religious leaders have equally failed us. We cannot afford to fail the next generation.

“Each life lost in this attack must be accounted for. All perpetrators must be brought to their knees. Anything less will not be acceptable by the people of Bokkos. It is on this premise that I want to withdraw my services to the Executive Governor of Plateau State as a Special Assistant on ICT.”

He continued: “On the day I got my re-appointment as a Special Adviser, I also signed my resignation letter. It will be recalled that on the July 18, 2016, our paramount ruler, Saf Ron/Kulere Dah La’Azarus Agai was murdered in cold blood. Seven years after, no one has been arrested or brought to book despite all the protests, pleas, litigations and concerns of the people of Bokkos.

“I was one of the youths that led a protest to little Rayfield on July 20, 2016 and ended up been arrested with two of my brothers. On January 28, 2020, gunmen suspected to be herdsmen attacked Kwatas village, killing 15 persons. I wrote an epistle lamenting with my pen, why Governor Lalong would not visit the family of the victims or even attend the mass burial.

On the day of APC campaign flag-off in Jos; the same marauding herdsmen also attacked Maikatako village in Bokkos at night.
“At about 10:15pm on Tuesday November 15, 2022, armed Fulani militants attacked Maikatako village, a community of 500 residents located 20 miles south of Barkin Ladi town, where 11 people, including babies were killed and another seven injured.”

According to Mashat, those killed include Umundum Maren (82); Satmun Gyokos (27); Larai Ginai (70); Seth Matthew (2); Dorcas Satmak (28); Peret Satmak (13); Nanribet Satmak; Longkinan Satmak (1); Taho Isa (7); Sakanjalla Isa and Ubwas Emmanuel.

He added that at least, five houses and a church were burnt. “Hours later, a renewed attack on November 16 at Folloh Village, two miles west of Maikatako was attacked. Half of the village of 300 brick houses was razed down. At least, one person was killed and seven others injured.

“My deepest concern and sentiment is that my dear Governor and Principal, whom I have supported with everything I have when it comes to political support, did not abandon whatsoever political engagement he had to visit my people, despite how we tried to reach out for that to be done.

“The APC as a party that I am a member did not honour the dead and the families of the aggrieved by cancelling any further political activity to honour the dead or even send a high powered delegation from the PCC to console with the good people of Bokkos.

“My people are mourning, my people are in tears, the land is spilled with blood, my people want justice and my people must get justice. I will no longer be politically correct while the enemy daily makes in-roads in a calculated ethnic cleansing.

“We can only go to campaign to people that are alive and not people in their graves. The major task of government is to secure lives and property of its citizen. Our government has failed us, our traditional rulers have failed us, our religious leaders have equally failed us, we cannot afford to fail the next generation.”

Meanwhile, no fewer than 10 persons were killed in another dastardly attack in Folo Village of Bokkos local government of Plateau State. The security operatives in the state confirmed the attack.

Governor Lalong has ordered security forces to go after the terrorists who attacked Maikatako. He condemned the attack, said the killers must be fished out and brought to justice for the dastardly act.

The Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor, Dr. Makut Simon Macham, yesterday quoted the Governor as saying that the rising attacks and destruction of farm crops, livestock and other property within the general Bokkos area are becoming worrisome and must be checked immediately.

According to the statement, while sympathising with the families of the victims, the governor reiterated that his administration will not allow terrorists and bandits to take foothold in any part of the state as all security agencies have been directed to be hard on any person or groups behind the criminal acts.

More so, the Commander Operation Safe Haven and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Armoured Division, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Ali has paid an on the spot assessment to Maikatako village where he inspected the houses burnt and property destroyed.

The Chairman of Bokkos Local Government, Joseph Guluwa; Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Barnard Matur and former Chairman Bokkos LGA Hon. Luka Makut were also at the community to sympathise with them.

However, some public affairs watchers have insinuated that anytime President Muhammadu Buhari visited Jos, it was always followed by an attack in Bokkos that is about 78 kilometres.

They cited many instances to buttress their assertions. For example, in 2018 while Buhari was at Government House in Little Rayfield Jos when the Roadmap to Peace was signed, Bokkos was under attack, though the residents have always blamed the herdsmen for the attacks.

Again there were two-night attacks on Ganda village of Daffo district of Bokkos one time. They also cited January 28, 2020 where gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen, attacked Kwatas village, killing 15 persons.

The dastardly attacks took place even as the President has always expressed the commitment of the Federal Government to support and assist the Peace-Building Agency to end the vicious cycle of violence in Plateau.