‘We want to go back home’ – Displaced people of Plateau communities cry out
A Plateau State youth group under the banner of Concerned Mushere Youth Vanguard, CMYV, has called on Governor Caleb Mutfwang to keep to his promise of returning their displaced people to their ancestral lands after they were forced to flee their homes by marauding Fulani militias.
The CMYV, who made the plea at a press parley in Jos on Saturday on behalf of the displaced indigenes of some communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of the state, said they are not happy that their people have been forced to live in camps as Internally Displaced People, while the Fulani people who expelled them from their lands have now occupied their homes.
Chairman of the CMYV, John Bitrus, who spoke on behalf of the group, noted that months after the governor promised that they would soon return to their ancestral homes, nothing has been done to that effect, hence their cries to the government on their need to return home.
Bitrus listed the villages currently being occupied by their conquerors as Hokk, Kaban, Kadim, Nawula, Dulu, Mbor, and Margif. They called on the government and security agencies to come to their aid so that the displaced indigenes can go back to their lands.
According to Bitrus, the seven communities, which are all in the Mushere Chiefdom of the council, were attacked and ravaged by the terrorists, killing many of the inhabitants and displacing thousands who fled to safer locations.
He added that for over four months since the invasion of the communities, the displaced people have been living in IDP camps, with some moving in with relatives in other villages, while the Fulani invaders have taken over their homes and farmlands and have renamed the communities.
“We are calling on our able governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, to remember his promises of doing everything possible to return our displaced people to our ancestral lands,” Bitrus pleaded.
“It is sad that as we speak, our people have been forced to flee their ancestral homes to take shelter at Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camps following the incessant and relentless terrorist attacks and siege, while the Fulani people have taken over our homes, farmlands, and have renamed the villages after sacking them.
“They move around brazenly with their guns and other dangerous weapons and kill anyone they see.
“They have built their tents and are grazing their cattle on farmlands, while our people, the real owners of the lands, are roaming about with no hope when they will return home.
“The situation of our people is pathetic, and we are pleading with Gov. Mutfwang, the state and local government, as well as security agencies, to come to the aid of our people,” Bitrus lamented.
‘We want to go back home’ – Displaced people of Plateau communities cry out
