The Irigwe Development Association (IDR) has condemned the killing of herders’ cattle and the destruction of farm crops around the Maiyanga community of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The secretary-general of the group, Danjuma Dickson Auta, in a statement noted that the killing might have been carried out by youths who were provoked by the activities of herders in the area.
He described it as unfortunate and called on the security agencies to investigate and prosecute those fueling crises in the area, which he noted was a threat to the peace pact signed with the Fulani community.
The statement reads, “This is alarming because it is coming a few days after a 36-man implementation committee for peace was inaugurated to set the ground rolling for peaceful coexistence between Irigwe and the Fulani community.
“We at Irigwe had welcomed this move because of our belief in the sincerity of the commander of the OPSH, Gen A.S Ali in ensuring that we all enjoy the most needed peace in our land.”
The association said the killing of the cattle should be seen as acts committed by individuals and not the entire Irigwe people.
“We stand against any act that will return us back to the era of senseless attacks on our communities. We must all be seen as being serious in participating in the process that would usher in genuine peace by respecting one another and distancing ourselves from acts of provocation,” Auta added.
It would be recalled that the leadership of the Fulani in the state had on Thursday claimed that over 100 of their cattle were killed around Maiyanga.
