‘Only state police can curb attacks in Plateau communities’ – Berom group insists
A group under the auspices of the Berom Community Development Association, BECA, has thrown its weight behind calls for the creation of state police, believing the outfit will effectively tackle insecurity and the incessant attacks on rural communities in Plateau State.
The group, which made the call at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, said it was solidly behind Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who has been a strong advocate for the establishment of a state police.
According to the group, it would go a long way to curbing the invasion of rural communities by terrorists and bandits as well as restore public confidence in security.
During the press conference, the newly elected President of BECA, Timothy Choji, noted that establishing state police would strengthen community security structures and enable quicker responses to threats in vulnerable areas of Plateau State, where farmers have suffered repeated attacks and the destruction of farmland.
“Permit me also to use this opportunity to call on both the Federal and Plateau State governments to again look into the issue of insecurity bedevilling our communities back home, where our people are facing threats from suspected terrorists,” Choji said.
He added that despite opposition to the creation of a state police particularly by the member representing Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi as well as some other opposition figures in the state, an outfit like state police would go a long way in tackling the lingering cases of attacks in the state.
“The issue of establishing state police should be treated with the urgency it deserves, as it may go a long way in addressing the menace.
“Farmers in some parts of the state find it difficult to cultivate their farms. Occasionally, crops almost ready for harvest are deliberately destroyed without provocation. Something urgent has to be done to restore the confidence of the people,” he said.
The BECA President further urged members of the Berom community to support Gov. Mutfwang in his advocacy for the establishment of a state police in the face of the constant attacks in their local communities, especially in Berom-dominated communities in Barkin Ladi, Jos East, and Riyom local government areas of Plateau State.