A group, Berom Youth Moulders (BYM), has called on the Plateau Government to ensure the full implementation of the Anti-Land Grabbing Law in the state.
Barr. Dalyop Solomon, the National President of BYM, made the call at a news conference on Wednesday in Jos.
Gov. Simon Lalong had in Dec. 2020, signed into the law, the anti-land grabbing bill after it was passed by the state House of Assembly.
However, Solomon noted that the ineffectiveness of the law had exacerbated the spate of insecurity currently bedevilling the state.
The national president, who disclosed that 68 communities in Plateau have been taken over by foreigners, insisted that the full implementation of the law would reverse the situation.
”It’s no longer news that over 68 villages and communities in Berom land have been sacked and are currently occupied by foreigners with no challenge whatsoever either from the natives or the government as well as security services.
”The situation has made the original occupants of these communities refugees in their own land.
”The non implementation of the anti-land grabbing law in the state is currently aiding the territorial expansionist appetite of the invaders from within and outside the state.
”We call on the government to ensure the full implementation of this law in order to address this anomaly,” he warned.
Solomon also called on the government to address the plights of the Internally-Displced Persons (IDPs) scattered all over the place due to the lingering insecurity in the state.
”The plight of displaced persons in the state is yet to receive any meaningful attention in terms of relief, rehabilitation and return from any quotas or authority in the land.
”Government and indeed the security agencies must have clear-cut programme and commitment to facilitate the return of IDPs to rebuild their homes and livelihoods,” he further called.
Solomon also condemned the recent killings of innocent citizens in some communities of Kanam, Wase and Bassa Local Government Areas of the state.