Plateau Killings: APC Youths Accuse Elders of Conspiracy of Silence

Plateau State APC Youths Online Forum on Thursday expressed shock that since the recent killings of over 200 persons which threw the state into utter confusion, elders in the state have remained silent, describing the development as sickening.

Members of the forum expressed surprise that the elders have remained silence leaving the security business to the state Governor, Simon Lalong, alone.

They said: “It is bad that all the elders in the state are divided and scattered along political lines.”

They also described the call for Lalong to resign his position as governor of the state as untimely, as the crisis didn’t start with his administration, and considering the laudable efforts he has made to maintain peace in the state.

Rather, the youths called for the immediate arrest and questioning of the North Central Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Danladi Ciroma, “who has given a lead about the perpetrators of the attack by referring to it as retaliatory, where he justified the killing on the basis that over 300 cows were allegedly rustled by some natives of Barkin Ladi.”

The APC youths also condemned the hijack of the peaceful protest by the Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) by paid hoodlums, who they said took the laws into their hands and attacked the Government House, damaging car and offices complex.

“CAN should come out and condemn the attacks so that it will not send wrong signal of partisanship, and dragging the name of the church in the mud, as its well-intended peaceful protest ended in violence.

“We want to also condemn the activities of the opposition in the state that have been feasting on the attacks to make a capital issue by spreading propaganda, inciting and hate speech on social media.

“This is a ‘Plateau Project’ that involves all the citizens of the state; they should therefore rise above party lines, ethnic differences and religious bigotry to face a common enemy that is hell-bent on capturing our land,” the forum noted.

The youths also demanded “the reclamation of all the lands and villages overpowered and taken by the herdsmen, and secure it for the natives as a matter of significance.

According to them, “Rehabilitation programmes should be organised for traumatised victims and internally displaced persons (IDP) that have fled their ancestral homes.”

They also demanded a full implementation of ‘Plateau Roadmap to Peace’ document that has compensation plans that entails rebuilding and restoration of all affected communities.