Six die, 30 injured in Plateau communal clashes

Mutfwang calls for dialogue
Plateau State Government has confirmed six persons killed and 30 injured in communal clashes in Mikang Local Council of the state.

Commissioner for Information and Communication, Musa Ashoms, told newsmen, yesterday, in Jos, that the clashes took place on Sunday in Funyalang and Ponglong communities.

Ashoms advised citizens against taking arms against themselves over issues they could resolve amicably.

He described the clashes over land dispute as unfortunate, as brothers and sisters fought over what could be discussed and resolved amicably.

“We woke up yesterday with this gory story that people, who had lived together all their lives, decided to take up arms against one another. Unfortunately, we lost six persons and had about 30 persons badly injured, while about 40 houses were torched and food bans razed.

“So, it is quite unfortunate that it happened because of a land dispute. It is an issue that could have been resolved amicably, according to the Chairman of Mikang Local Council. He said the land could not even yield six bags of rice,” he said.

According to him, in about 11 villages, people could not control their nerves and went into fighting with one another.

He, however, commended security agencies for stopping what he described as cancerous behaviour.

The commissioner, who said that peace had, however, been restored, prayed that it would be sustained.

He added: “As a government, we want to tell people that we will not allow people to just take up arms, kill people and go away with it. Like we always say, this is not a banana republic; this is the Plateau of Nigeria, under the leadership of Governor Caleb Muftwang.”

MEANWHILE, the governor has condemned the recurrence of communal hostilities that led to the destruction of property and injuries among residents of villages bordering Langtang North and Mikang local councils.

In the wake of the violence on Saturday and Sunday, Mutfwang called for truce and dialogue.

While sympathising with the victims, he denounced the clashes as unnecessary and unacceptable.

A statement yesterday by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, the governor emphasised that such acts undermine the government’s 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.

Expressing dismay over the conflict, Mutfwang underscored the importance of dialogue as the most civilised and effective means of conflict resolution, questioning the rationale behind individuals resorting to violence, taking the law into their own hands and targeting innocent communities with arson.

The governor called on security agencies to respond decisively and hold the perpetrators and their sponsors accountable to the law. He also urged swift mobilisation to the affected areas to prevent further escalation of the situation.

He appealed to traditional, community and religious leaders, as well as key stakeholders from the affected communities, to initiate dialogue and work towards amicable resolution of the disputes to foster an atmosphere of harmonious co-existence.

The Commissioner of Police, Hassan Yabanet, said calm had been restored in the two local councils, as he quickly deployed a police crack team to the area when he received information about the clash.

In a statement, yesterday, by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Alfred Alabo, the CP said the team raced to the scene and succeeded in stabilising the situation.

According to preliminary investigation, the clash erupted as a result of land dispute between the two communities.

He avoided talking about casualty figures, but said that one person was wounded, five houses set ablaze and livestock destroyed.

Yabanet ordered intensified patrol of the area and immediate deployment of additional police personnel from Langtang and Shendam, as well as a detachment of tactical teams from the state headquarters.