By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

A coalition of fulani registered organizations in  Plateau State has expressed concern over the resurgence of hostilities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State and condemn in strong terms the wanton destruction of lives and property.

Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna, the Coalition’s Chairman in Plateau State, Garba Abdullahi Muhammed, said the local government area had enjoyed relative peace and harmonious coexistence between farmers and Fulani herding community.

According to him “they lived together in peace, harmony and mutual respect for one another since time immemorial sharing economic potentials, engaging in inter marriages and exchange of pleasantries and even understands each other’s’ languages and culture.”

He said the farmers and herders of Bokkos Local government endured the shocks of the plateau crises that engulfed most parts of the state for a long time and agreed to give peace a chance.

He said relentless efforts were made through dialogues, formation of peace committees, efforts of security organizations, peace building agencies, civil society organizations and the international community.

According to him, the peaceful atmosphere persisted from governments to governments, commanders to commanders, until recently things suddenly changed.

The coalition alleged  injustice and hatred meted to the Fulani community, saying there were rustling of their cattle in large number, killing of their herders, indiscriminate arrests of innocent Fulani herders and their cattle until compensations are paid.

While the coalition demanded the immediate removal of the Commander, they also sought unconditional release of all arrested and detained people and disclosure of the whereabouts of the missing individuals as a result of attacks on their communities.

They called on the federal government to set an independent and unbiased panel of inquiry to investigate the incidents and compensate victims appropriately regardless of religious or ethnic affiliation.

“Deploy neutral security personnel to restore peace and normalcy, protect the Fulani community and other communities from aggression and intimidation.

With heavy heart we want to bring to the notice of the general public, security agencies, state and federal governments, other stakeholders and the international community, the continuous aggression on Fulani people in plateau state, Nigeria.”

“We enjoin all Nigerian regardless of ethnic, religious and regional background to work together in synergy to fight injustice, criminality and bias for a meaningful development.”