A youth group known as the Bokkos Concerned Youths (BCY) has strongly condemned what it describes as targeted attacks, mass killings, and the displacement of residents from 10 communities by suspected Fulani militias in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Speaking at a press conference in Jos on Tuesday, the BCY group voiced deep concern over the ongoing wave of violence in Bokkos, alleging that terrorists have not only carried out relentless attacks but have also forcefully taken over more than 10 communities, leaving them completely deserted and under the control of armed bandits.
BCY Public Relations Officer Chris Daley, who addressed the press conference, decried the fact that for many years, innocent people have been subjected to senseless killings, displacements, and kidnappings by the Fulani terrorists.
According to Daley, more than 61 communities have suffered violent attacks, leaving several persons killed and displaced in the council.
“The frequency and severity of the attacks have left us scared and our communities gripped with anxiety and uncertainty,” Daley said.
“Communities like Hokk, Nawula, Pangkap, Luwapan, Fokoldep, Dangru, Bodel, Duun, Dulu, among others, have been taken over by the Fulani terrorists.
“With our naked eyes, we have seen innocent families of 10, nine, and more being completely wiped out, leaving thousands of lives lost and properties worth billions destroyed by the activities of these bandits,” Daley lamented.
Speaking further, the BCY spokesman said intelligence reports have shown that the attacks have been premeditated and targeted, with the Fulani bandits’ clear aim to intimidate, displace, and annihilate the farming communities, sometimes with the connivance of corrupt military personnel.
Said he, “we can no longer ignore the actions of corrupt personnel within the military in some communities within Bokkos LGA as ever since these attacks occurred, no single arrest has been made.”
He also accused some military personnel of aiding and abetting the armed terrorists, stressing that such betrayal of trust and duty was reprehensible and would not go unpunished according to the BCY.
“We, however, call on the government to empower communities with the tools, skills, and resources needed to rebuild and recover from these attacks.
“We also urge the government to engage with local leaders, civil society organizations, and traditional leaders to identify and address terrorist activities.
“We urge the government to invest in economic development, education, and social services in vulnerable communities.
“These investments can help to address the underlying drivers of poverty, inequality, and exclusion, which can further contribute to radicalisation and insecurity,” he appealed.
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