The Governor of Plateau State, Celeb Mutfwang, has revealed that over 64 communities in the state are grappling with displacement caused by terrorists who have seized control of these areas, including schools.
Addressing the recent surge in attacks within the state, Governor Mutfwang emphasized the significant challenges imposed on the region due to the ongoing displacement of residents resulting from terrorist activities.
During an interview with Channels TV on Tuesday, he conveyed that the festive season was marked with a heavy heart as at least 17 communities experienced attacks, painting a grim picture of the security situation in the state.
He said, “When people are dislocated from their villages and they have to run for shelter, now we are struggling to provide shelter for these people that have been displaced and dislocated from their communities.
“If they stay away from those communities for a sustained period of time, the terrorists would come in. As I am talking to you today (Tuesday), in Riyom Local Government, in Barikin Ladi Local Government, schools have been occupied by these terrorists for almost a number of years now.
“We have not less than 64 communities that have been displaced and their lands have been taken over by these terrorists.”
Furthermore, the Governor condemned the perceived inaction under the previous administration, stating that residents felt the terrorists were given official government backing.
He emphasized that the current occupation of schools did not happen overnight, with some having been seized for as long as five years.
“Under the last regime the feeling among people in Plateau State particularly the victims of these terrorists attacks is that it looks as if the terrorists were given official government backing to be able to terrorise them because little or nothing was done to repel these attacks.
“I can tell you these schools that are being occupied, it didn’t just start now, some of those schools have been occupied in the last three, four, five years.
“Children therefore in those schools have not been able to go to school, they have to relocate, we even have primary health care centres abandoned because of these terrorists which means that our health care system is put in jeopardy, what do we need to do? I think this is where the president needs to come in,” he added.
