1,801 persons killed in Plateau attacks
News & Trends •
danbaba suggested that a victim support programme be initiated to reduce their sufferings1 no fewer than 1801 persons have been confirmed killed and 50212 others displaced in recent attacks in plateau state1 avm bala danbaba retired chairman of the committee presented his report to gov. simon lalong on monday in jos1 danbaba said that the committee identified 115 communities cutting across jos north jos south bassa riyom barkin ladi and bokkos local government areas that were affected by the crises1 he said that the committee whose one month period was later increased to two months received 55 memoranda and visited 27 camps where the idps were quartered1 the only idps camp we did not visit was the one at lere in the dorowa area of barkin ladi local government. we could not go there because of security reasons1 the committee also visited all the affected communities for an on-the-spot assessment he stated1 he said the committee had recommended that the idps be returned to their ancestral homes saying that the exercise should be carried out in four phases1 the committee also emphasised the provision of adequate security in the affected areas he said adding that the idps were willing and anxious to return to their homes if security was guaranteed1 the committee on resettlement of internally displaced persons idps set up by the plateau government made the confirmation on monday1 the committee also called for the establishment of temporary camps within the victims communities for them to live in while their houses were being reconstructed1 lalong who received the report commended the committee for a carrying out a good job and announced that the 7-man committee would be responsible for its implementation1 lalong reaffirmed his administrations commitment to securing lives and property and condemned insinuations that the state and federal governments were doing nothing to end the crises1 things might be slow but in the spirit of slowly but surely as well as patience we have been able to make some phenomenal achievements in ensuring that peace returns and is sustained1 as some of our strategic initiatives in engendering peace and security in the state this administration attracted the establishment of the 205 combat and rescue units in kerang1 we also attracted a mobile police squadron in shendam as well as the recent approval to establish mobile police barracks in gashish district of barkinladi1 all these are in addition to procurement and distribution of security vehicles equipped with modern communication gadgets he stressed1 lalong also said that he had approved the recruitment and training of neighbourhood watch personnel who had been attached to operation rainbow for community policing and intelligence gathering. nan1