The Nigerian Bar Association in Plateau State, comprising four branches, has alleged that terrorists are openly attacking communities observing government-imposed curfews amid renewed killings in the state. The association raised the alarm at a joint press conference held at the NUJ Secretariat, Jos, with the chairmen of the four branches present. They expressed concern over the continued killings in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Bokkos Local Government Areas, which have exposed the failure of government to protect lives and property.
The Nigerian Bar Association condemned the gruesome and sustained attacks carried out on citizens on a daily basis across Plateau State. The most recent attacks occurred in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Bokkos Local Government Areas, leaving undesirable results in their trail. The association stated that it was disturbing that terrorists had disregarded the curfew imposed by the government to attack law-abiding citizens. This has created a sense of insecurity and fear among the people.
The association reported that some community vigilantes in Kikyo village in Mangu Local Government Area were killed at their duty post by terrorists during curfew hours. Similar ugly developments have been reported in Cantoma and Bin-Per villages in Mangu Local Government Area, as well as Kasa village in Marit District in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. The Nigerian Bar Association warned that the unabated violence had created a sense of impunity and eroded public confidence in the government's ability to protect its citizens.
The Nigerian Bar Association commended President Bola Tinubu for visiting Plateau to condole with victims of the Jos North killings and for his push for state police and citizen security training. However, the association called on the Federal Government to go further in addressing the security challenges in the state. They demanded the sponsorship of an Executive Bill to domicile security under the Concurrent Legislative List to give governors effective control over security operations.
The association also listed Garga community in Kanam LGA, which shares boundaries with Bauchi and Taraba, as one of the communities suffering from banditry. They alleged an influx of Fulani militia from Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, and the Republic of Niger. The Nigerian Bar Association commended the Plateau State Government efforts, including the revamping of Operation Rainbow, training of 2,000 Neighbourhood Watch members and hunters, provision of gun trucks, and establishment of a command and control centre.
However, the association asked the state to license Operation Rainbow and Neighbourhood Watch to operate kinetic facilities, amend its law, implement the Anti-Land Grabbing Law, and provide structures for police divisions. They also called on local government chairmen to be resident in their domains, urged communities to coordinate intelligence and exercise lawful self-defence, and asked traditional rulers to monitor the influx of unidentified persons.
The Nigerian Bar Association called for time-bound trials of terrorism cases, sanctioning of lawyers who aid delays, signing of death warrants of convicted terrorists by governors, and public disclosure of trials of terrorism sponsors. They warned that if the killings continue unabated, it may be challenging for citizens to cast votes in 2027, and that campaign promises and government policies can only be fulfilled when citizens are alive to benefit from them.
Key points
- The Nigerian Bar Association has alleged that terrorists are attacking communities in Plateau State despite a government-imposed curfew.
- The association has called on the Federal Government to sponsor an Executive Bill to domicile security under the Concurrent Legislative List.
- The NBA has also demanded time-bound trials of terrorism cases and the signing of death warrants of convicted terrorists by governors.
