Plateau sets up committee to resettle attack victims

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, on Monday, set up a committee with a mandate to resettle those who were displaced from their communities following persistent attacks on them by gunmen in the state.

The Director of Press and Public Affairs, Government House, Mr Gyang Bere, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday also said that the governor equally inaugurated three additional committees including the one mandated to address complaints arising from the upgrade of chiefdoms and districts carried out by the last administration.

The According reports that gunmen had in the past months attacked several communities in the state leading to the death of many villagers and the destruction of their properties

Over 21,000 persons who were displaced following the attacks are said to be camping at different locations in various Local Government Areas including Bassa, Bokkos, Mangu, Riyom, and Barkin Ladi among others.

During the inauguration on Monday, the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to return the internally displaced persons back to their ancestral homes as well as tackling the challenges faced by the citizens in the state.

The statement read in part, “In a determined effort to fulfill his campaign pledges to the people of Plateau State, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has inaugurated a Task Force focused on resettling Internally Displaced Persons to their original communities within the state.

“The ceremony, held at Government House Little Rayfield, Jos, also saw the inauguration of three additional committees: one tasked with reviewing the structure and performance of the Plateau State Civil Service, another to address complaints stemming from the 2015 upgrade of Chiefdoms, creation of Districts, and Villages, and a third focusing on Land Administration in Plateau State.

“Governor Mutfwang reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling the challenges facing Plateau citizens and expressed confidence that the carefully selected members of these committees would guide decision-making without bias.

“Highlighting the resettlement of IDPs as a top priority, Governor Mutfwang emphasized the importance of enabling displaced individuals to return to their ancestral homes before the upcoming farming season.

“He also stressed the need to utilize all available farmland to enhance security and address the economic decay witnessed across various sectors.

“The Task Force, led by Air Commodore Rwang Pam Christopher, is charged with identifying displaced communities, gathering data on IDPs, facilitating their relocation, and implementing security measures.

“In his assessment of the civil service, Governor Mutfwang lamented the prevalence of mediocrity and pledged to restore the sector’s former glory.

“Regarding the contentious issue of Chiefdom upgrades and land allocations, the Governor acknowledged the need for impartial scrutiny to address complaints and make recommendations in the interest of all stakeholders.

“Expressing concern over the misuse of land resources, Governor Mutfwang warned against illegal land ownership and pledged to enforce regulations to safeguard public interests.

“He assured residents that the committees’ mandate is not punitive but aimed at addressing pressing issues affecting public health and welfare.

“Barr. Isaac Dimka, speaking on behalf of the Committees, thanked the Governor for the opportunity to serve and pledged their unwavering support and dedication to their respective mandates”