The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) have jointly conducted an on-the-spot assessment of communities recently attacked in Plateau.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that some communities in Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas of the state were recently attacked by unknown gunmen who killed many villagers and set many houses ablaze.
Mr Eugene Nyenlong, Acting North Central Zonal Coordinator of NEMA said that apart from the lives lost, they had seen the level of damage caused by the attackers.
“Based on the NEMA mandate, which is to coordinate disasters of all kinds, we have gone to the communities and what we have seen is devastating.
“We are going to develop our report and make an onward submission to the Federal Government to see how to provide succour to the victims,” he said.
Nyelong stated that the figures of the houses destroyed and the persons displaced were still being collated.
The acting coordinator, however, advised the people to learn to live together and tolerate one another in the interest of peace.
Mrs Rose Dakwar, Acting Executive Secretary of Plateau SEMA said that during the visit, they discovered that the attacks truly affected many people.
Dakwar noted that apart from the burnt houses, they saw cars and even farm produce that were destroyed by the attackers.
The acting executive secretary said that SEMA had been giving relief materials and other supports to victims and would continue to do so within its resources.
She said that SEMA and NEMA were working together to ensure that victims of the attacks got more relief materials.
Bokkos Local Government Chairman, Mr Yusuf Machen, thanked NEMA and SEMA for the visit and expressed optimism that it would reduce the sufferings of the people.
Machen described the attacks as very unfortunate and wondered why God allowed it to happen.
“The attacks have no basis because the communities that were attacked had no issue that warranted such a heinous crime.
“No crises, no dispute, just like that, the attackers came and started shooting and killing people with over 25 lives lost.
“As you have seen, houses including churches were razed,” he said.
He assured the agencies of maximum support of the local government to enable them to succeed in their assignment of alleviating the sufferings of the victims.
NAN reports that the team was also at the palace of the traditional ruler of Kwatas, Chief Yakubu Madaki.
Madaki narrated to the officials, how his people were attacked on 26 and 27 of January.
According to him, the attackers on the first day came at about 7 pm and started shooting at anyone in sight.
NAN further reports that the communities visited included Ruboi, Changet, Machanbet and Kwatas.