Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang on Friday visited the communities recently attacked in the Mangu Local Government Area of the state.
The governor vowed that those responsible for the attack won’t go unpunished.
Mutfwang, accompanied by heads of security agencies and top government functionaries, went around the affected communities, starting with Kwahaslalek, a village where several lives were lost, and the Mangu metropolis, where houses and sources of livelihood were destroyed.
This development is coming after a recent attack on Kwahaslalek, a village within the state.
Recently, 30 persons were killed by gunmen who attacked Kwahaslalek village, Mangu Local Government Area of the state.
The governor paid a condolence visit to the community and commiserated with the bereaved families and the entire people of the Mangu Local Government area over the unfortunate incident.
He called for continuous dialogue between community leaders to resolve issues capable of causing division and violence among the residents and assured them of the unwavering support of the government in that regard.
Mutfwang described the carnage in Mangu as needless and urged the people to rise against crisis merchants bent on recruiting innocent youths to unleash terror on citizens for their personal gains.
“I want to assure the people of Mangu local government that the government of Plateau state will do all it can to ensure that external aggressors are kept away. We are going to also ensure that criminal elements in our midst are dealt with; we will no longer tolerate such activities.
“This is the time to preach forgiveness and preach unity. It is only when we do that, that we can be vigilant to ward off external forces that divide us and make sure they turn our attention from productive ventures to only crisis management. We must not allow that to continue.
“I want to appeal to everyone; if anyone ever thought of giving cover to any criminal, it is time to end that and expose them. It is time to love your brothers more than your friends who are criminals. I plead with us, particularly to the Mwaghavul nation, we have always held ourselves as brothers, even if we are of different faith, we must not lose that sense of brotherhood.” He stated.
Mutfwang explained that the state government has set in motion machinery to checkmate the activities of drug merchants, who are patronised by youths, to enable them to carry out criminal activities in the state.
“Let me sound a word of warning to those who are making huge money from the sale of drugs and narcotics, we will come after you very soon because you cannot continue to destroy our young people and go free. By the grace of God, we will put up a strategic plan to contain the menace of drug addiction in the state.” He stated.
In response, the Mishkaham Mwaghavul, John Hirse commended the governor for coming to sympathise with the people and urged him to remain focused despite the deliberate attempt to distract him.
“In the past four days, we could not sleep; you have seen the massive destruction, there was no cause for it. A disagreement between two people now engulfs the whole local government.
“It is better to sit down and dialogue than take laws into your hands. We have been living in peace, doing business together, we don’t know what brought about this. There is nothing more important than peace.”
He appealed to the governor to help the victims to return home to continue with their businesses as that would foster a speedy recovery.
He stated, “The people have nothing now, help them return home and the economy will recover quickly. Don’t be distracted, this is meant to distract you from your focus to bring good governance to the people.”
Mutfwang later held a meeting with some stakeholders in Bokkos Local Government Area led by the Transition Committee Chairman, Monday Kasam.
He also visited the internally displaced persons who survived the recent attacks in the area, giving them hope that he is doing everything possible for them to return to their homes.
