Plateau State Tensions: Communities Cry Out Over Alleged Land Grabbing and Attacks
About five years ago, tensions began to rise in the Northern part of Plateau State as the Berom and Irigwe communities found themselves at odds over the alleged forceful occupation and renaming of their ancestral lands. Despite the persistent appeals by key figures such as former governor Jonah Jang, Senator Istifanus Gyang, and the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba, along with various Berom socio-cultural groups like the Berom Educational and Cultural Organization (BECO), and the Irigwes of Bassa local government area, their pleas to the Federal Government to address the issue went unanswered.
The Berom people highlighted several communities that had been attacked and renamed since 2001, including Rotchun (aka Rafin Acha), Dankum (renamed Mahanga), Hywa (renamed Lugere), Fass (renamed Tafawa), and many others. As a result of these attacks, the natives of these communities have been forced to integrate into safer areas and are unable to return to their homes.
Unfortunately, the situation has since spread to other communities in the Central part of Plateau, with Mangu and Bokkos local government areas being particularly affected. Between April and July 2023, over 200 people were killed in Mangu, home to the Mwaghavul tribe, with numerous communities being displaced or destroyed.
Similar attacks were also reported in Bokkos, where more than 200 people were killed, and survivors have had to relocate due to ongoing threats and occupation of their homes and lands by unidentified individuals. The situation has led to calls for a thorough investigation into the activities of certain Fulani enclaves, such as Mahanga, where reports suggest that arms are being stockpiled and attacks in the State are being planned and launched.
The recurring attacks are viewed by the affected communities as attempts at land grabbing, but the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), representing herders, denies this claim. Former governor Jang emphasized the urgent need for a State police force to address the escalating violence and security challenges in Plateau State.
While some, like Senator Diket Plang, advocate for a nationalistic approach to the Plateau issue and emphasize the need for humanitarian assistance and improved security, the State MACBAN Chairman, Nura Muhammad, downplays the idea of land grabbing and calls for peaceful coexistence.
The Operation Safe Haven, responsible for maintaining peace in the State, did not respond to inquiries about the allegations surrounding Mahanga at the time of reporting, further fueling speculation about the situation.
Source: Vanguard News
