Plateau forms committee to relocate victims of attacks

Caleb Mutfwang, the governor of Plateau State, established a committee on Monday with the task of resettling those who had been forced from their homes due to ongoing gunfire from the state.

In a statement released on Monday, Government House’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Gyang Bere, said that the governor had also inaugurated three other committees, one of which was tasked with handling complaints pertaining to the previous administration’s upgrade of chiefdoms and districts.

According to The PUNCH, militants have assaulted multiple towns in the state in recent months, killing numerous residents and destroying their property.

It is said that more than 21,000 people who were displaced as a result of the attacks are camped out in a number of different Local Government Areas, including Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Mangu, and Riyom.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to addressing the issues facing the state’s residents and helping internally displaced people return to their ancestral homes during Monday’s inauguration.

The statement read in part, “In a determined effort to fulfill his campaign pledges to the people of Plateau State, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has inaugurated a Task Force focused on resettling Internally Displaced Persons to their original communities within the state.

“The ceremony, held at Government House Little Rayfield, Jos, also saw the inauguration of three additional committees: one tasked with reviewing the structure and performance of the Plateau State Civil Service, another to address complaints stemming from the 2015 upgrade of Chiefdoms, creation of Districts, and Villages, and a third focusing on Land Administration in Plateau State.

“Governor Mutfwang reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling the challenges facing Plateau citizens and expressed confidence that the carefully selected members of these committees would guide decision-making without bias.

“Highlighting the resettlement of IDPs as a top priority, Governor Mutfwang emphasized the importance of enabling displaced individuals to return to their ancestral homes before the upcoming farming season.

“He also stressed the need to utilize all available farmland to enhance security and address the economic decay witnessed across various sectors.

“The Task Force, led by Air Commodore Rwang Pam Christopher, is charged with identifying displaced communities, gathering data on IDPs, facilitating their relocation, and implementing security measures.

“In his assessment of the civil service, Governor Mutfwang lamented the prevalence of mediocrity and pledged to restore the sector’s former glory.

“Regarding the contentious issue of Chiefdom upgrades and land allocations, the Governor acknowledged the need for impartial scrutiny to address complaints and make recommendations in the interest of all stakeholders.

“Expressing concern over the misuse of land resources, Governor Mutfwang warned against illegal land ownership and pledged to enforce regulations to safeguard public interests.

“He assured residents that the committees’ mandate is not punitive but aimed at addressing pressing issues affecting public health and welfare.

“Barr. Isaac Dimka, speaking on behalf of the Committees, thanked the Governor for the opportunity to serve and pledged their unwavering support and dedication to their respective mandates”