A coalition of ethnic nationalities In Conjunction With Plateau indigenous youth bodies have raised an alarm over forceful displacement and annexation of one hundred and fifty indigenous Communities as well as land grabbing In Plateau State.
Chairman of the Indigenous Youths, Paul Dekete, while addressing a Press Conference alongside other tribal leaders, held at the NUJ Press Centre in Jos on Monday.
They expressed disappointment over the low level of response by governments over the years on their plight.
The annexed communities according to them, are scattered in Bassa, Bokkos, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, and Mangu local government areas of the state.
He says due to the unsatisfactory and feeble responses so far received from all levels of Government in Nigeria, the Atakar, Berom, Irigwe, Mwaghavul and Ron Youths Associations in conjunction with the Coalition of Plateau Indigenous Youths Bodies are constraint to draw the attention of the public and International Community.
He explained as un acceptable the loss of their ancestral lands as well as the denial of access to farmlands and mining sites currently being suffered by the customary landowners in the State.
The leader of the
group Laments that for several years to date, the youth bodies have cried aloud and lodged complains to appropriate authorities without much positive response.
He named the security agencies to includes the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Security, Operation Safe Haven-OPSH, National Human Rights Commission, and pleaded with the National Assembly to end attacks unleashed on hamlets, villages and communities with the principal motive of dispossessing them of their God-giving lands and territory.
According to the spokesperson who laments collective Community experiences, says they strongly believe that there is a curious connection between the areas where their people have suffered the worse forms of displacement and denial of access to the rich natural and mineral endowment of such locations.
Paul Detere explains that there are common knowledge that hamlets and villages in Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas are richly endowed with resources such as favourable weather conditions, natural tourist sites, fertile soils and water bodies.