The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for urgent and coordinated measures by the federal and Plateau State governments to halt the persistent attacks on communities in the state.
It warned that the continued loss of lives and property was undermining public confidence in government.
The association condemned recent attacks in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bokkos Local Government Areas, expressing concern that criminal elements continued to attack communities despite the imposition of curfews.
“The unabated cycle of violence unleashed on law-abiding citizens denigrates the social contract, and undermines public confidence in the State,” the NBA said while addressing journalists through the Chairman of the NBA Jos Branch, Morgan Dung, on Monday at the NUJ Secretariat in Jos.
The association specifically cited the killing of community vigilantes at their duty post in Kikyau village, Mangu Local Government Area, during the curfew hours, as well as reported attacks in Kantoma and Bin-Per villages in Mangu.
It also mentioned Kassa, Wereh, Ropp, Fan and Marit districts in Barkin Ladi, warning that the situation was “an invitation to total anarchy and complete breakdown of law and order”.
The NBA said the protection of lives and property remained the most fundamental responsibility of government, citing Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every person the right to life.
“The protection of lives and property is the most fundamental responsibility of government,” the association said.
The lawyers also expressed concern that the recurring violence had created a situation in which perpetrators could operate with impunity, while some communities had allegedly been displaced from their ancestral lands over the years.
On the Federal Government, the NBA commended President Bola Tinubu for visiting Plateau to condole with the state over the killings in Jos North, as well as his efforts towards the creation of state police and the proposed security training of Nigerians.
However, the association called for an executive bill to be sponsored before the National Assembly to move security onto the Concurrent Legislative List and give state governors greater control over security operations in their states.
“Maintaining status quo in the chain of command has proven to be unyielding in the light of recent ugly developments in the country,” the NBA said.
It also urged the Federal Government to adequately equip and motivate the Armed Forces and paramilitary agencies, strengthen border surveillance and address security threats around communities sharing borders with Bauchi and Taraba states.
The NBA further called for the degazetting of the forest around the Pai River Game Reserve and the establishment of a military formation there to tackle criminal activities around the Plateau, Bauchi and Taraba axis.
The association commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration for revamping the neighbourhood watch and Operation Rainbow, training 2,000 personnel, procuring security vehicles and motorcycles, establishing a command and central monitoring centre in Jos and setting up a committee on the creation of a state police service.
“The above initiatives came with a huge relief to Plateau citizens,” the NBA said.
It, however, urged the state government to facilitate the licensing of Operation Rainbow and Neighbourhood Watch personnel to operate kinetic facilities under the supervision of frontline security agencies.
The lawyers also called for an amendment of the Plateau State Operation Rainbow law, implementation of the Anti-Land Grabbing Law and provision of structures for police divisions and forward operating bases across the state.
They further urged Plateau, Bauchi and Taraba states to strengthen cooperation in tackling security threats along their shared borders.
At the local government and community levels, the NBA called on local government chairmen to reside in their respective areas of jurisdiction to improve governance and coordination with the state government.
It also urged communities to strengthen intelligence gathering while cautioning citizens against spreading unverified information, making inciting comments or taking the law into their own hands.
The association called on traditional rulers to safeguard the property of their subjects, monitor the influx of unidentified people into their communities and report unusual activities to relevant authorities.
On security agencies, the NBA demanded a more effective response to kidnapping, banditry, land grabbing, terrorism and other crimes.
It expressed concern over the “near absence” of security vehicles procured through state government intervention at flashpoints in the hinterlands, demanding their immediate redeployment.
“We demand their immediate relocation to combat insecurity in real time,” the association said.
The NBA also called for tighter control of military uniforms, ammunition and other security accoutrements, as well as the arrest and prosecution of people impersonating security personnel.
It demanded investigations into delayed responses to attacks and appropriate sanctions for security officers found culpable.
“The spectre of security agencies belatedly appearing in scenes of attack after the assailants have successfully retreated should be investigated,” the NBA said.
On the judiciary, the association called for time-bound trials of terrorism-related cases to facilitate speedy determination and prosecution.
It also urged sanctions against lawyers whose unethical conduct contributes to delays in the administration of justice.
The NBA called for the publication of outcomes of trials involving identified sponsors and other actors of terrorism to strengthen public confidence in the justice system.
The association said its branches in Plateau were committed to using their expertise in criminal law, constitutional law, human rights, public interest litigation, alternative dispute resolution and legal aid to support lawful efforts to address insecurity.
“The NBA will support every lawful effort to ensure that perpetrators of atrocities, including those who finance, sponsor, facilitate or otherwise aid acts of terrorism and other violent crimes, are identified, investigated and, where sufficient evidence exists, prosecuted in accordance with the law,” it said.
The lawyers also pledged to advocate protection for witnesses and victims, legal support for vulnerable and displaced persons and institutional reforms aimed at preventing impunity and recurrence.
“Peace without justice is fragile, and justice without accountability is incomplete,” the NBA added.
The statement was signed by Morgan I. Dung, Chairman of the NBA Jos Branch; Selven D. Zingman, Chairman of the Pankshin Branch; Lucy Pam-Fom Bot, Chairman of the Bukuru Branch; and Sylvia Kumtong, Chairman of the Shendam Branch.
The NBA warned that the recurring attacks had raised serious constitutional and governance concerns, stressing that every Nigerian has a right to life and security.
It noted that “when these rights are not guaranteed, public confidence erodes, national cohesion weakens, and the rule of law is undermined”.
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