A group of indigenous youth organizations in Plateau State has said that no fewer than 50 people have died, and hundreds have been displaced from their homes due to a wave of attacks that occurred in various parts of the state over the past week.

These young leaders, hailing from different communities such as Barkin Ladi, Jos South, Jos North, Bassa, Mangu, and Qua’an Pan, expressed their profound sorrow over the ongoing violence affecting their lives. They recounted how their ancestral lands have been invaded and their villages left in ruins. They also voiced their worries about drones spotted flying over their neighborhoods both before and after the assaults.

The youth said out that they have been forced to leave their farms, disrupting their means of living and plunging them into uncertainty.

Dalyop Mwantiri, who leads the Berom Youth Moulders Association, spoke on behalf of several youth groups from different communities. He stressed that even with attempts to rid their areas of criminals and bandits, attacks keep occurring daily.

The group reflected on the current situation in the area, particularly in Barkin Ladi, noting that there was a time when things were relatively peaceful because the Department of State Services (DSS) was active in the region. However, conflicts started again soon after their departure.

Mwantiri called on the authorities to deploy more DSS personnel to areas facing security issues. He expressed hope that their presence, along with better intelligence operations, would help significantly reduce the ongoing violence.

He said that the victims deserve justice through the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attacks, as well as improved security to prevent future incidents. “The first thing victims deserve is justice, which has not yet been delivered. Those who carried out these attacks must be identified, caught, and held accountable,” he stated.

He also mentioned the urgent need for better security, recalling how peace returned to the area when DSS personnel were present, and their intelligence work made a positive difference before the recent increase in violence.

Mwantiri described the situation for internally displaced persons (IDPs) as “extremely serious.” He highlighted that while the Plateau State Government has started building 100 housing units for displaced people in Bokkos Local Government Area, many victims are still without homes.

Additionally, the coalition called for the quick establishment of local police forces to empower communities to protect themselves more effectively.

The young people in the community highlighted the importance of giving more authority to traditional leaders when it comes to choosing and reviewing candidates for new state security programs. They think this will help prevent criminals from getting involved in these efforts.

They also urged security agencies to investigate who owns the drones that have been seen flying over their villages, especially before and after violent events.

Mwantiri shared his worries, stating, “We’ve noticed these drones hovering over our neighborhoods both before and after attacks, which makes us wonder what their purpose is. If they are only here to watch us, then why are we still experiencing these attacks?

It is crucial to find out who is operating these drones to determine if they are being flown by the military or by insurgent groups.