By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
The Irigwe Development Association and the Irigwe Youth Movement of Miango District in Bassa LGA of Plateau State on Tuesday said suspected Fulani herdsmen have killed 41 of its people in repeated attacks in several communities between February and May, 2021.
The Groups also said the aforementioned deaths have rendered many families orphans and widows.
They equally said 25 houses were burnt down and farms with crops were also destroyed in 12 villages during the period under review.
The National President Irigwe Development Association, Prince Robert Dodo disclosed this while briefing journalists in Jos, the State Capital, in company of other national officials.
Dodo said, “As a nation we are poised and therefore demand for the following from Bassa, Plateau State and Federal Governments.
“That the Fulani herdsmen be asked to temporarily suspend grazing in Rigwe land. This will enable our people and the herders have a dialogue in order to come to a compromise because this grazing has been fingered to be the major cause of this mayhems.
They maintained that the Local, State and Federal Governments should, “Immediately provide relief materials to the victims of the attacks as well as direct.
The Irigwe groups called on SEMA and NEMA to carry out an assessment on all the affected communities, with a view of providing succour.
That the aformentioned tiers of government, “Should as a matter of utmost importance initiate a rebuilding plan to have all the houses razed down rebuilt, so as to enable the owners returned to their ancestral lands.
They also call for immediate compensation of the people whose farmlands and crops have been destroyed.
They also demanded for, “Justice in its fullness in all the killings of all innocent Rigwe sons ‘and daughters.
As a way of tackling the security challenges, “Security Agencies (Operation Safe Haven, Police and Operation Rainbow) should immediately intensified modalities of ensuring that there is no conflict between farmers and herders in Rigwe land for want of proper demography of those who are interested in settling down in our land”, it stressed.
