From Jude Dangwam, Jos

Youths in Bokkos communities have faulted an eviction alarm raised by some Fulani settlers in Bokkos describing it as a deliberate step to cause another circle of unrest across communities which has suffered various forms of attacks from suspected bandits’ since 2018 till date.

The youths stated this in a letter countering the allegations signed by Daniel Peter, Youth Leader of Chikam village, Matta Patrick Danladi the Youth President of Tarangol, as well as Bitrus Mabur the Secretary of Chikam Youth organization and the Mai Angwan of Chikam, Amos Malo on Sunday in Jos, the state capital.

The letter reads, “We write on behalf of the entire Tarangol Youths and community of Kwatas Ward, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

“It is of public record that the Tarangol community, predominantly agrarian, has a long-standing history of peaceful coexistence with various ethnic groups, including Fulani herdsmen, in our area. This hospitality, however, has been repeatedly exploited by certain unscrupulous individuals within the Fulani community, particularly the aforementioned trio, who have engaged in actions that threaten the peace of our community.” They posited

The youths insisted that the letter written by the Fulani inhabitants is not only filled with falsehoods but is clearly aimed at inciting violence and causing unrest.

“Their claims include the existence of a ‘Fulani community’ in Chikam (Garau). Allegations that two of their cows were shot by security personnel. Allegations that their huts and foodstuffs were burned. We categorically state that these claims are false. There is no Fulani community in Chikam or anywhere in Tarangol District. Their allegations are designed to distort the truth and vilify our peaceful community.

“We believe that this letter was maliciously written to provoke conflict, disrupt the peace, and create unnecessary fear and insecurity within Tarangol,” they cautioned

While clarifying the recent development in the locality, the Youths leaders maintained that law enforcement agents were recently deployed to Chikam to removed strange Fulani herdsmen who had forcefully occupied their land without any legal or customary claim.

“These individuals were not native to the area and their presence was a source of tension, as they continued to allow their cattle to destroy our farmlands. Importantly, Alh Nuhu Ibrahim, a Fulani who had been living peacefully in our community for some time, was not targeted or driven out. He voluntarily chose to leave a few days after the intruders were evicted.

“The actions of Alh Saleh Yusuf, Alh Umar Ori and Alh Mohammed Gorte, including their submission of unfounded accusations to the Commissioner of Police, are deliberate attempts to cause disunity, incite violence, and disrupt the fragile peace of Tarangol. They are not members of Chikam and their actions should be seen for what they are. A calculated effort to create chaos where there has been none.” They firmly stated

The youths urged relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the actions and intentions of those individuals, adding that their behavior threatens public order and the peace of their communities.

“We trust that this counter-complaint will receive the urgent attention it deserves to prevent any further breakdown of law and order in the region. We also reiterate that our community has remained law-abiding; refraining from retaliatory actions despite the immense losses we have suffered. However, we implore the security agencies to swiftly intervene, as the situation could escalate if not addressed promptly,” they cautioned.