Plateau Group Raises the Alarm, Says Terrorists Camping Around to Attack Communities

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

‘Ngwang Ishi O’Tarok (NIO), a socio-cultural group of Tarok communities in Plateau State, has raised the alarm over alleged plans by terrorists to attack, adding that the terrorists are already camping around their communities.
It has therefore called on government and security agents to protect its people against “merchants of violence and attacks.”

Addressing the press in Jos yesterday, President and Secretary of the group, David Dashe and Nangor Ndam respectively also called on the state government to “urgently address the continuous targeting and profiling of Tarok.
Dashe recalled that between 2002 and 2013, Tarok was isolated as target of countless attacks, conspiracy and molestations by terrorists for unprovoked reasons which claimed the lives of people and property worth millions of naira were destroyed.

He said, ”We have continued to nurse the scars of that experience. Despite the situation we found ourselves, we have exercised restraint, minimised the tendency for retaliation and preached the benefit of peaceful co-existence. We have also participated in several peace building processes that are aimed at entrenching peace and deleting the memory of war.

“Over the last few years, the terrorist’s threats against our people have continued unabated in new phases, justifying the fear that we face a fragile future. We have continued to read hate speeches and other forms of orchestrations against our people in the media, including online blogs.”

Dashe added that the plots against the Tarok people had been intensified in recent weeks as the terrorists were allegedly perfecting plans to attack the people of Wase, Langtang North, Langtang South Local Government Areas occupied by Tarok people, and by extension the entire Southern Plateau.

“In recent weeks Tarok communities of Wase, Langtang North, Langtang South and indeed neighbouring communities have continued to witness unprecedented influx of war-like strangers in the communities. Areas where these strangers are camped are Aving, Jawando,Gwiwa-kogi-Pino, Timman,Tungaand zam-Bwarat of Wase Local Government Area.”

Dashe expressed fears that if this threat was left unchecked, it may worsen the prevailing national security challenges with far reaching implications on food security as attacks on the farmers would inevitably disrupt activities leading to food shortages, adding, “We hope the security agents will deploy appropriate measures that will nip these threats in the bud in order to avoid another cycle of breakdown of law and order, and also thaw the unpleasant repercussion of the impugned acts and provocation.”