Killings: Protesting youths shut down Plateau

FOLLOWING the killings of two people by unknown gunmen in Magun Local Government Area of Plateau State, protesting youths, on Saturday, and blocked the highway in the area.

In the past three weeks, there have been cases of alleged killing of innocent people by unknown gunmen within Arangai and Mangu Halle villages with the latest on Friday, when two children of a cleric were allegedly killed in cold blood.

The youth hinged their protests on the alleged failure of the authorities, particularly security operatives to protect them.

They blocked the new Mangu-Mamaraban Foron-Busa-Buji road and Mangu-Barkin-Ladi road, thereby disrupting movement of motorists and commuters travelling from Jos to Pankshin or Shendam.

They carried placards with different inscriptions, and also prevented movement from and out of Mangu town.

President of Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM), Mr Gayus Dapul, told our correspondent that “the protest is to send a message to the stakeholders in Plateau that the youths and the people of Mangu as a whole, are not happy with the security situation in the area.

“Our people are being attacked on a daily basis without just cause; we can’t sit down and watch our people dying like fowls if the security operatives fail us,” he said.

He called on the federal and state governments to rise to the challenge of protecting the lives and property of the people of Mangu, adding: “We the people of Mangu are known as peace-loving people and whenever you see us demonstrating in this manner, it means we have been pushed to the wall.’’

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When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Plateau State Police Command, Mr Tyopev Terna, said his officers were trying to quell the protest.

“As we speak, we are trying our best to control the situation in Mangu before it gets out of hand. Thank God, the youth leaders are cooperating with us to reopen the two routes blocked by them.

“We are not happy about the killings alleged to have taken place in the area, but we have been doing our best to ensure that law and order is maintained,’’ Terna said.