Plateau attacks: 7, 000 displaced women, children abandoned – Group

A group under the aegis of Internally Displaced Women of Daffo, a
community in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State on Thursday raised the alarm
that about 7, 000 persons mainly women and children are faced with the
threat of healthcare, destitution, poverty, hunger and food insecurity
as a result of their displacement due to recent attacks in the
district.

Recall that the attacks which claimed 32 lives, left 10 severely
injured and another 10 missing affected 9 villages in the district.

Presenting the group's demands to the speaker, Plateau State House of
Assembly, RT. Hon. Peter Azi, leader of IDW, and Mrs Matawal Comfort
Malan, said, "It is imperative to call the attention of government at
all levels, security agencies, civil societies, the media, religious
bodies and other kind spirited individuals to the prevailing and
incipient humanitarian situation facing us victims of those attacks".

Malan said, "Presently, we are numbering at least 7, 000, comprising
women and children are faced with the most threatening state of
healthcare, destitution, poverty, hunger and food insecurity as a
result of the violent displacements during the attacks.

The group demanded that, "Adequate security should be supplied to the
affected communities and the same strategy employed to guard farmers
in the North-East and elsewhere on their farms should be employed to
enable our farmers pickup economically.

"Considering that the 2018 rainy season has commenced, any further
delay in ensuring that these villagers return to their ancestral homes
and farmlands would create severe food shortages and debilitating
poverty.

"Sufficient food, clothing and other necessities of life should be
urgently supplied to us to reduce our sufferings and enable us face
life with ease.

They further called on the government to properly compensate and
rebuild damaged communities in line with its obligations and the
rights of citizens to security and welfare.

"According to the records, 1,017 houses were razed down during the
attacks. Other assets that were either burnt down or looted include;
livestock, household appliances, vehicles, pumping machines,
electrical generating sets, assorted foodstuff, cash sums of money,
furniture and other valuables worth millions of Naira.

"Thousands of school children are equally out of school, losing study
time and facing threats of being dragged into various social vices due
to restiveness and illiteracy", the group decried.

"We further demand that Community leaders should be empowered to in
conjunction with security agencies enforce resolutions/agreements
reached at peace or security meetings with relevant stakeholders.

"The constitutional provisions empowering traditional institutions to
decline hospitality to anybody they consider as a threat to their
subjects physically, psychologically
or economically should be strengthened and emphasized at security
meetings", the group stressed.

The group further demanded that, the aforementioned demands be met
without any delay.

"Failure to do so would amount to a confirmation of of the failure of
elected officials to uphold their oaths of office, thus portraying
governance as a failed venture in the eyes of the citizens," the group
further warned.