A good governance advocacy group, One Plateau, One Voice, has kicked against suggestions that a state of emergency should be imposed on the state due to the recurring violent attacks and killings for over two decades.
The calls were made by a group known as the Hausa-Fulani Unity in a video shared on social media platforms on Thursday, demanding the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the state, as well as the disbandment of Operation Rainbow and removal of the Director of the Department of State Services, DSS, in the state.
But in responding to the demands, the One Plateau, One Voice said it rejects the suggestion, noting that a state of emergency was not what the state needs at the moment, but rather concerted efforts to revamp the security structure to adequately tackle insecurity in the state.
In the statement signed on Friday by the convener of the advocacy group, Dogo Nanzing, the association said a state of emergency would not address the longstanding security challenges confronting communities across the state, insisting that priority should instead be given to protecting residents, restoring stability and facilitating the return of displaced persons.
Nanzing emphasized that though Plateau had experienced years of violence, displacement and loss of lives, the focus should now be on strengthening security and restoring affected communities.
“For 25 years, they have been killing our people and taking over our villages. Plateau has lost thousands of its citizens, but all through that time, those responsible for the attacks and their sympathisers never asked that a state of emergency be imposed on Plateau until now,” Nanzing said.
He further questioned the genuineness of calls for the disbandment of Operation Rainbow, stating that the security outfit was created as part of the state’s response to insecurity and that its mandate should be respected.
He added that the DSS and other security agencies have always maintained neutrality in tackling security concerns in the state and have done a lot to maintain peace.
The organisation argued that calling for their disbandment was taking the whole scenario to a ridiculous level and called on the Hausa-Fulani Unity group to be cautious in their demands, as that was not what Plateau State needs.
“The DSS has been in Plateau for as long as the state exists. From the beginning of the killings to this day, they never doubted the agency’s credibility and neutrality,” Nanzing said.
The group added that recent developments should be viewed against the background of prolonged violence and displacement, arguing that affected residents deserved protection and an opportunity to return to their communities.
It also called for the restoration of lands and communities from which residents had been displaced, stressing that any such process should be handled through lawful and peaceful mechanisms.
“We demand the return of our lands to the people who are the original owners,” the group said, urging the government, security agencies, traditional institutions and community leaders to work together to address the security situation and prevent further loss of lives.