The governor of the Plateau has refuted circulating allegations that herdsmen have taken control of several of the region’s settlements.
At a service to commemorate the 2023 Plateau Forgiveness Day on Sunday at St. Monica Catholic Church in Jos, the governor took advantage of the opportunity to address allegations being made that the State’s government had done nothing to stop herdsmen from occupying some villages and taking control of others.
He refuted the claim and asserted that there was no evidence of any local takeover on his desk.
According to him, the government passed and signed into law the Anti-Land Grabbing bill in 2020 as a preventative measure.
“I want the world to know that what we have been doing is bringing people back to their ancestral lands who have been displaced after fleeing their homes as a result of attacks. For instance, the contractor has been given the go-ahead to begin work on the site for the construction of a Police Mobile Barracks in Kakuruk, Gashish District, Barkin Local Government. This would give the residents of the area the security they need to return to their lands.
“Another village, Jong Community in the Ropp District of Barkin Ladi returned to their abode last two months ago. Similarly, the Shonong Community in Bachit District of Riyom Local Government has also been returned to their homes”.
Governor Lalong said anyone who has such a complaint should write to the Government or go to court to protest such an infraction if it happens to promise that he will not spare anyone who tries to lay claim on any inch of Plateau State that does not belong to him.
Lalong has come under fire in the past by Plateau youths for how he has handled insecurity in the state
