The paramount ruler of Irigwe chiefdom in Bassa LGA of Plateau State, Brra Ngwe Irigwe Ronku Aka, has called on the federal, state and local governments to ban open grazing, saying it will reduce insecurity.
Aka made the call during the funeral of seven victims of attacks by suspected Fulani militia, held at Nzharuvo Miango District in Bassa LGA.
He said, “If open grazing is banned, my people will get peace, and peace will continue to be enjoyed across this country.”
The victims, mostly children, were identified as Joshua Ngwe Ayuba (9yrs), Tamar Monday (13yrs), Nancy Monday (17yrs), Matthew Zongo Sunday (17yrs), Henry Fah Yakubu (17yrs), Nuhu Isaiah Zongo (19yrs), and Abbas Musa Sunday (58yrs).
Aka stressed, “You cannot be a chief without people. You have to rule people, not stones, not trees.
“I’m calling on government to intervene and stop this killing with immediate effect.”
President Irigwe Development Association, Daniel Gyan, described the attacks as “genocide”, saying, “What is happening in our communities is a combination of both Christian genocide and land grabbing.”
Bassa LGA Chairman, Dr Joshua Riti, assured efforts to secure lives and properties, saying, “We’ll do everything humanly possible to see that the lives and properties of the people are secured.”
The seven victims were later laid to rest according to Christian rights.
Plateau monarch calls for ban on open grazing amid rising insecurity
