Plateau Church Leaders Want Fulani Militias Proscribed

National vice president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and head of Denominational Churches in Plateau State, Rev. Stephen Baba Panya, has called on the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Lateef Fagbemi, to initiate the process of proscribing the armed militias behind the mindless Christmas Eve killings in Barki Ladi and Bokkos local government areas of the state.

He made the call during a peace walk to the Government House in Jos organised by the Forum and CAN Plateau State chapter when they handed over a petition containing their 10-point demands to Governor Caleb Mutfwang for onward delivery to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Rev. Panya who read the petition on behalf of other church leaders said the armed terrorist militias should be officially designated as terrorists adding that this will give the military the power to fully engage them as provided in the Terrorism Act of 2022.

"It is on record that in 2015, the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) named the armed Fulani militias as the fourth deadliest terror group in the world. Nigeria must urgently act and treat them as such while also engaging other West African countries, through ECOWAS, to do the same thing. A regional approach, consensus action has become extremely imperative to deal with the menace of the Fulani militias," he said.

The Church leaders also called  for the release of all those alleged to have been arrested with legitimate self-defence implements such as cutlasses, clubs, machetes and in the course of protecting their communities in the aftermath of the attacks arguing that  it amounts to aggravating the pains of the people by security agencies who did not respond on time to protect the communities, to come belatedly and arrest those who are sacrificially and patriotically defending their communities from further attacks.

The petition further demanded an end to the intentional dispossession of land and the current land grabbing through militarisation and the activities of these armed militias and bandits which have gone on for too long now in the state.

"Records show that several indigenous villages have been overrun and the people displaced. Some of these villages are currently being occupied by these armed militias. This sad reality and social tragedy must change. The displaced people should be resettled back to their ancestral lands and given adequate security,” he said.

According to the petition, the federal government should as a matter of urgency end the intentional destruction of farm produce and cattle rustling which have become huge security issues while also calling for the construction of food barns which were burnt down with farm produce in the communities attacked.

"By implication, even if the survivors return to their communities, there would be no food left. Unless there is timely intervention, the people will face hunger and starvation," he said.

Meanwhile Governor Caleb Mutfwang in his response said the state has passed through a lot of difficulties in the last few weeks. He promised to deliver their petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who he said assured him that he will bring to an end the circle of violence in the state.

In his words, "I did not come as governor to preside over burial ceremonies. I will not sit back and watch the people being slaughtered. If we cannot bring them to justice, we shall equally take justice to them," Mutfwang said.