The Plateau Youth Council (PYC), Riyom Local Government Area chapter, has raised alarm over the recent wave of coordinated attacks in the area, which they say have claimed the lives of over 58 people and left 31 others hospitalized with varying degrees of injuries.
Speaking during a press briefing in Jos, the PYC Chairman, Comrade Zang Kefas Davou, described the violence as “unprecedented in coordination and brutality,” noting that the past few weeks have brought untold horror and devastation to the affected communities.
Davou revealed that more than 82 homes have been razed, with properties worth millions of naira destroyed. He added that vast hectares of cultivated farmlands—vital to the livelihood of residents—have been decimated.
“Beyond the immediate physical destruction, large hectares of our cultivated farmlands, representing the essence of our people’s sustenance, have been mowed down and decimated,” Davou said.
He further disclosed that over 15,000 residents have been displaced and are now living in dire conditions, lacking shelter, food, and basic dignity.
While commending the efforts of security agencies and government authorities at various levels, the PYC chairman insisted that the current response remains inadequate given the scale of destruction.
“It is imperative to state unequivocally that such efforts, however commendable, cannot be seen as enough,” he stressed.
Davou urged the government to acknowledge the magnitude of the crisis in Riyom and to take decisive steps in line with its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
“The fundamental responsibility of the government, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), is to protect lives and property. In Riyom, this responsibility is under threat, and our people’s lives and livelihoods remain gravely imperiled,” he said.
He called for the permanent deployment of security personnel, especially troops of the Nigerian Mobile Police Force (MOPOL), to vulnerable communities across the council.
“Their operations must go beyond reactive responses. They should include intelligence-led missions, constant patrols, and the establishment of forward operating bases to deter attackers and safeguard lives, farmlands, and property round-the-clock,” he stated.
Davou also emphasized the need for urgent measures to protect farmlands from further destruction and to guarantee the safety of farmers as the farming season progresses.
“The destruction of farmlands is a deliberate strategy to impoverish and dispossess our people. We demand immediate, concrete, and strategic action to prevent further losses and ensure our farmers can return to their fields without fear,” he added.
