By Our Reporter
Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State, has condemned the ‘willful’ destruction of farm crops in some communities of the state describing the action as callous, criminal, inhuman and wicked.
The Governor was reacting to report of recent pictures of destroyed farms in some local government areas of the state, which surfaced on social media, allegedly carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
“The recent case of such intentional decimation of farm crops in Kpachudu, Jebbu Miango in Bassa Local Government area is totally condemnable and unacceptable. From the reports, this is a carefully planned and executed act that is not only meant to provoke crisis, suspicion and instability in the area, but also render the victims poor and hungry. What these criminals fail to understand is that such actions will eventually leave the entire State and the country with food shortages where even the perpetrators will not escape,” the Governor said in a statement.
The Governor, therefore, directed the security agencies to immediately swing into action by conducting a thorough investigation into this terrorist activity with a view to arresting those behind it and prosecuting them.
According to him, the government working with the security agencies will do everything within its power to unravel those behind this barbaric act and will be dealt with.
Governor Lalong also mandated the Plateau Peace Building Agency to visit the affected areas and ascertain the level of damage, as well as foster dialogue within the communities with a view to ensuring that such incidents are avoided.
The Governor also enjoined community associations, traditional rulers, youth groups and vigilante platforms all over the State to be proactive by providing the security agencies with the intelligence to pre-empt and foil such plans as well as arresting the perpetrators who clearly are on a mission to return Plateau to the era of pain and agony.
The Governor sympathizes with the affected farmers and promises that the Government will do its best to ensure that they get justice.