Contrary to claim by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu
Ribadu, that no part of the country is under the control of terrorists,
investigations by Saturday Vanguard have revealed that no fewer than 64
communities in Plateau state have been invaded and occupied by terrorists some
of which have being renamed after the original inhabitants were driven away.
According to vanguardngr report, the situation is similar in neighbouring Benue State where two-third of the communities are presently under the control of foreign invaders while the displaced natives are languishing in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps. Farmers have also been chased away from their ancestral homes.
In Plateau State, during the administrations of former
Governors Jonah Jang (2007-2015), and Simon Lalong (2015-2023), the Berom tribe
who are found mainly in the Barkin Ladi, Jos North, Jos South, and Riyom Local
Government Areas, raised the alarm about invasions and displacement of the
natives by strange faces in collaboration with some known people.
They pointed out that in some instances, the insurgents
renamed the seized communities, but many people doubted and trivialised the
claim as the attacks later extended to the Irigwe Chiefdom in the Bassa Local
Government Area of the state.
Recall that former Governor Jang; former Senator, Plateau
North Senatorial Zone (where the affected LGAs are located), Istifanus Gyang;
the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba; the Berom Educational and Cultural
Organization, BECO and the Irigwe people in the Bassa Local Government Area
among others consistently appealed to the Federal Government to tackle land
occupation by foreign herders but all entreaties were ignored.
A document obtained from BECO by Saturday Vanguard in 2018
showed that over 54 communities had been taken over by the invaders. The
current President of BECO, Dara Gyang Dudu, however told Saturday Vanguard that
the number of sacked communities in Berom land alone is now 64.
The 2018 document listed some of the affected communities to
include “Rotchun (aka Rafin Acha); Dankum (renamed ‘Mahanga’); Hywa (renamed
‘Lugere’); Fass (renamed ‘Tafawa’); Davwak; Chwelnyap; Lyoho Dakar, and Angwan
Dalyop which were all attacked Between September 7 and 10, 2001 with the
original inhabitants displaced.”
