The Berom Youth Moulder-Association (BYM) is deeply alarmed by credible, anonymous intelligence indicating an imminent threat to the lives of three prominent individuals:

1. Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo: A cleric with the Regional Church Council in Barkin Ladi LGA.
2. Mr. Masara Kim: A journalist and advocate for media and social justice.
3. Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri: National President of the BYM and a human rights advocate.

The intelligence suggests that a group of Fulani bandits from Nasarawa State has entered Plateau State with the express intent to either abduct for elimination or outrightly assassinate these three figures.

CONTEXT OF THE ALARMING THREATS
These alarming threats are believed to be in direct retaliation for the individuals’ consistent reporting and vocal opposition to the genocides and acts of aggression perpetrated by Fulani militants and other terrorist networks operating in Plateau State and across Nigeria’s North-Central region.

The terrorist elements are reportedly enraged that these activists have successfully labeled them as aggressors, not victims, in the public and media sphere. This exposure is thought to have contributed to the recent decision by the US Government designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”

The bandits have been allegedly tasked with eliminating the three activists before any potential military action is carried out following the US designation.

RECENT SECURITY WARNINGS AND THE STRATEGIC LOCATIONS:
This specific threat follows broader security early warnings about the infiltration and strategic stationing of armed Fulani militants and their collaborators in several areas across Plateau State, allegedly planning an unprecedented scale of terror.
Reported Strategic Locations Include:

1. RIYOM LGA: Fass & Rankum (Mahanga) of Jol Community, Shong, Diuan-Hei, and Bangai Fulani of Bachi District;
2. Barkin Ladi LGA: Werre (renamed as “Lugere”) and Jong areas of Ropp District.
3. Jos South LGA: Hinterland of Tahei of Gyel District.
4. Bokkos LGA: Dajin-Gwomna of Mushere Chiefdom, Josho of Daffo District, among others.

CALL TO ACTION:
The Berom Youth Moulder-Association urges the Federal, State, and Local Governments to immediately increase security not only for Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, Mr. Masara Kim, and Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, but also for all vulnerable hamlets, villages, and communities in Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Jos South, Mangu, Riyom, and Qu’anpan Local Government Areas and other affected North-Central States.

Furthermore, we call on the US Government, should it carry out its executive order concerning terrorist networks, to include the aforementioned bandit-infested areas and others that have been notoriously established as “terrorist enclaves” on the Plateau in its action plan.

Signed:

Bature Iliya Adazaram
Secretary General, Berom Youth Moulder-Association

And

Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri
National President, Berom Youth Moulder-Association

The post BYM RAISES ALARM OVER IMMINENT THREAT TO LIVES OF CLERIC, JOURNALIST, AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE appeared first on eccvn.

Armed men suspected to be Fulani militias ambushed and shot dead one Mr. Amos Pam, 32 years of age at Kwi Community of Riyom LGA, Plateau State at about 8:04pm of 8th July, 2022.

According to local sources, it’s gathered that, “this is not the first time we have been subjected to this kind of attack; we have lost hundred of persons and villages sacked by armed Fulani militias, who have unrelentingly been killing at will..” thereby making life difficult for everyone within distressed general areas.

The deceased person, a hardworking youth has been buried, leaving the family and the entire community in a state of fear of similar development should nothing be done to arrest the situation.

By:

Dalyop Solomon Mwsntiri, Esq.
Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria-ECCVN

The post ARMED FULANI MILITIAS KILLED ONE IN PLATEAU appeared first on eccvn.

The Sector Commander of STF Sector 6, Col. Hassan Gwani, in his usual bias disposition, arrested the traditional rulers over alleged stealing and killing of unspecified number of cows on Tuesday by unknown persons around farmlands not within the territorial area of Wereng community.

As an Association, we condemn any form of criminality by any person or group of persons irrespective of their ethnic or religious divide.

The unceremonious arrest was preceded by an invitation for investigation which they honoured and promised not only to aid the security in ascertaining the truth of the alleged crime, but also whether or not the perpetrators are from within.

Instead of appreciating the steps taken by the traditional rulers’ report based on their findings, to Sector 6 Commander and his Administrative Officer, in their usual uncivil and bias dispositions, faulted the report, arrested and whisked the community leaders namely,

1. Da Davou Ndoh(ag) Gwom Wereng Community, 55yrs.
2. Mr Sunday Stephen, Ward Head of Kuru Station in Wereng Community, 35yrs who was surgically operated upon in the recent time.
3. Mr Ishaya Musa, Ward Head of Sham in Wereng, 38 years to the Headquarters of OPSH in Jos simply because the Fulani are said to have claimed that the unidentified thieves surfaced from the direction of Kuru Station and perpetrated the act in the interior bush outside the territorial jurisdiction of Wereng with no trace of identity of the criminals.

It should be noted that the BYM under the leadership of Solomon Dalyop Mwantiri, Esq. does not only condemn any act of criminality of whatever kind including Cattle theft, but also vehemently decry the shameless selective justice being fronted by the OPSH under Col. Hassan Gwani and his Administrative Officer in Riyom Local Government Area.

Dishearteningly, it’s worthy of mention that the apparent temperament of the OPSH has always been lopsided whenever terror attacks or farmed crops destruction are meted out against the ethnic nationality by Fulani, but such dereliction is not exhibited whenever Fulani report any act of criminality.

As a people, we will support any form of investigation to unravel the criminals. However, the intimidation, arrest by proxy over unidentified criminals and continued detention of the community leaders by the OPSH is a flagrant abuse and violation of the Fundamental rights of the detainees who have been forced to accept the alleged crime as unacceptable.

The Berom Youths are similarly calling on appropriate authorities to, as a matter of urgency, call to order the Ardo Mamud Adams of Rankum village (renamed as “Mahanga”) should any armed invasion is meted out against Wereng and any neighboring community. This call is based on utterances attributed to him at the Sector 6 Command yesterday, 14th May, 2022.

Going by the foregoing, the BYM hereby demands for

• immediately release of the detainees as they will aid the security in their investigation into the said crime.
  -Demand for compensation in a tune of #3,000,000 to each of the victims of the OPSH intimidation, illegal arrest and continued unlawful detention of the Wereng traditional rulers.
• Demand for unreserved apology publish on 2 national dailies.
• Immediate removal of Col. Hassan Gwani and Murtala (Administrative Officer) from Sector 6 of OPSH) and also investigation into the biasness, intimidation, callous arrest, and continued detention and deprivation of right to freedom of expression posed to the detainees and other community members during the two sittings held at the Sector Headquarters.
• Investigate the said utterances of Ardo Mamud Adams

Failure to comply with the aforementioned demands will attract exploration of available avenues including legal action to seek redress over the unprofessional conduct of the duo.

Rwang Tengwong
BYM National Publicity Secretary
14/05/2022

The post BYM CONDEMNS THE ILLEGAL DETENTION OF COMMUNITY LEADERS OVER MISSING COWS appeared first on eccvn.

According to one of the victims, Mr. Ibrahim Peter, “my wife, I and Mrs. Mary Ayuba went to harvest Fonio(Accha) around Tashek hamlet, where I hired a farm and planted Fonio (Accha). On our way going to Vwak, the Community Headquarters where we have been hosted after our displacements in 2013, unknown to us that armed Fulani have laid ambush shortly after a bridge along Tashek-Vwak road. They had firearms,but didn’t use on us, rather they use sticks on us,” he said.

Mr. Peter and Mrs. Mary Ayuba, who screamed out for help, narrowly escaped with minor injuries leaving behind Mrs. Felicia Peter, a pregnant woman who couldn’t get herself out of entrapment of the attackers.

Upon the escape of the 2 that raised alarm, personnel of Operation Rainbow and members of Community Police hastily responded to the distress call for rescue of the pregnant woman who suffers injuries as a result of beating meted out on her.

It’s further gathered as to why the victims were relatively late from the harvest-field; “our farmed crops are usually destroyed within weekend, especially on Sundays when people must have been in Church. Thus, we tried to complete the harvest in order to avoid such the recurrence of same, that’s why we took the risk of late return to Vwak” Peter recounted.
He added that it’s not their wish to go and hire farmlands as far as Tashek, but they have no option than to take such steps as all their lands at Darin, Davwak and Hywa have been forcibly taken over and occupied by Fulani herdsmen. This therefore exposes IDPs to many forms of aggression if no drastic measures are taken to nip these in the bud.

By:

Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, Esq.
Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria-ECCVN.

As at the time of filing this report, it’s sourced out that Mrs Felicia is receiving medical attention at Primary Health Centre of Jol Community while the other 2 have been discharged.

The post SECURITY: 3 IDPs ATTACKED BY ARMED MEN IN RIYOM OF PLATEAU STATE appeared first on eccvn.

ECCVN hereby calls on relevant agencies, particularly the Police Force to swiftly wade into preliminary investigation so as to unmask all the terror actors, focusing much on the leaders involved as instigators of armed aggression on innocent persons.

By:

Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, Esq.
Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria-ECCVN

The post SUSPECTED FULANI MILITIAS INVASION AFFIRMS INTELLIGENCE; ONE INJURED IN FRESH ATTACK appeared first on eccvn.

One of the victims, Mrs Lami Pam Dadon who is a widow of 5 children is heartbroken by the tragedy as her only means of livelihood becomes a mirage as a result of what she describes as, “killers of my family..who remind me about how much I lost my husband, the the breadwinner of the family,” when she looks at her crops lying fallow with no one beside to comfort her.

In expressing her despondency, she cries out to God Almighty for mercy, saying, “Lord God, look at me with your eyes of mercy especially, now that I’m alone struggling to look after the 5 children who are in dire need of food and school fees…” she said this in addition to her State of blood-pressure ever since the demise of her husband sometime last year, 2020.

She appeals not only for herself, but also Mr. Bulus Iliya who suffers similar fate. That, “we will greatly appreciate any form of assistance to start up life again..” so that the victims are not broken down with trauma and delirium simply because there’s no intervention.

In view of this, ECCVN calls for dislodgement of all Fulani herdsmen o copying lands grabbed within Riyom and Barkin Ladi LGAs as a pilot Government program towards ensuring human and food security in Plateau particularly, crisis affected villages and Communities.

By:

Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, Esq,.
Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria-ECCVN

The post OH LORD, LOOK AT ME WITH EYES OF MERCY- WIDOW OF 5 CRIES OUT OVER CROPS DESTRUCTION appeared first on eccvn.

The post ECCVN BRINGS SUCCOUR TO VICTIMS ATTACKED BY FULANI MILITIA appeared first on eccvn.

Upon visit to the hospital, Mr James Yohanna, an aggrerian of 38 years, and a father of 8 children with aged mother and 3 siblings under him as the sole breadwinner, respond that, ” in view of the current threats we received about planned attacks on our villages especially, Byei, we resolved to be on serious watch throughout yesterday and in the process, we keenly observed the withdrawal and evacuation of security personnel of Operation Safe Haven from their permanent Base stationed between Byei and Wereng-Camp at about 4:00pm with an unusual presence of Fulani grazing close-by the our village and the military Base. While local vigilante were on the watch and I was about eating my Dinner at about 6:34pm so I could go and join them shortly after, I heard heavy gunfire which I believed must have been an invasion by Fulani militias based on the information we received 3 days ago that they will be coming to attack us between 9th to 11th of July, 2021,” James said.

In pains arising from the injury sustained, James managed to speak up again that, “when I went out to assess the situation, unknown to me that they attackers had already stationed themselves round the village. I made further steps to one route I suspected they could also come through. Shockingly, shootings of heavy arms were released targeting us and after some minutes, I felt strange without knowing what had happened to me……I just found myself in the hospital.”

Amid the not yet identified attackers were some people in military uniform as narrated by the victim saying, “as it was not yet dark, I perplexedly saw 3 people in military uniform among the attackers before I was shot. I am in deep pains now because of the injury on my chest. All my prayer now is, I need help to foot my medical bill so I can be given the requisite treatment. My children are worried now, they would want to see me. Please, come to my aid,” Mr James is appealing so he can be given adequate attention.

Government and spirited persons are hereby urged to come to his aid in kind and cash in order to be able to foot the cost of the medical treatment being administered. Mr. James is also appealing for a ban on open grazing since it has been the major trigger and yardstick employed by Fulani to unleash terror attacks on native villages and communities. He equally plead for deployment or stationing Mobile Police Outpost in Byei so that series of invasions meted out on us by armed Fulani militias could be curbed down otherwise our land would continue to be grabbed and human lives lost to the ongoing ethnic cleansing agenda of the Fulani.

By:

Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, Esq.
Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria-ECCVN

The post INJURED VICTIM CRIES OUT FOR INTERVENTION AS FULANI ATTACK AGAIN appeared first on eccvn.

According to one of the victims on admission in the hospital, “After our long displacement in 2012 to-date, we went to clear our farmlands preparatory for the forth coming farming season that is about setting in, a group of organized Fulani youths of over 50 in number emerged from a nearby stream and attacked us, asking that what are we doing here since the had already grabbed our homestead in Kak village years back. All I could remember is that 4 of the militias fiercely stormed on me with while others spread themselves against other natives who were crying out for help but non could come for our rescue. ..I was battered on my head and also sustained fracture on my left hand,” Mr. Joshua Choji narrated.

Perplexingly, the attackers having inflicted grievous injuries using sharp cutlasses, knives sticks and other dangerous weapons, they “threatened us not to step our feet on those lands again what brought us back again as the present administration is theirs and they can do anything unthinkable and no one can dare them” Joshua added? He aslo said, “among those that attacked us are new faces but I was able to recognize one Ibrahim Mairiga whose presence in Sopp axis is not up to 3 years. They brandish their weapons saying that we should never think of coming here to cultivate any of the farms. That the farms have been acquired by way of conquest since and so, we should hand off from any claim” haughtily claiming forceful acquisition of land in this 21st century.

Other victims are-
(1) Da John Makama
(2) Danladi Dazam
(3) Chuwang Kara
(4) Alpha Yakubu
(5) Daniel Danbwarang
(6) Ibrahim Jatau

In another response from former PYC Chairman of Riyom Local Government Area, Comrade Solomon Pam said, “People of Kak of Sopp Community, in Riyom LGA of Plateau State went to clear their farms to get ready for the year’s farming but unfortunately, they were attacked by Fulani militias while working on their farms.

Seven (7) people were serious injured which they are currently receiving treatment at VOM Christian Hospita.One of the victims, Da. John Makama (a.k.a. BABA GAD) was referred from VOM Christian Hospital to Jos University Teaching Hospital-JUTH due to the critical nature of his condition,”

When we reach out to the security, particularly OPSH/STF and the Police, they came to the scene of the incident and they were able to arrest two (2) Fulani Herdsmen and took them to their sector in Hoss.

Surprisingly, some of our youths that were asked to follow them so they can narrate exactly how the incident occurred were later on detained overnight until this evening when they were released even though our traditional ruler is among those detained when they went to follow-up, but he was released in the evening of yesterday after 5 hours of the detention at STF Base in Hoss,” he said.

Those detained are-
(1) Prince Clement Pam (Acting Traditional Ruler of Sopp Community) was detained at about 1:00pm and later released around 6:30pm of yesterday, 30th April, 2021.
(2) Mr. Pam Makeri (a member of Neighborhood Watch/ Community Police)
(3) Mr. Labi Danjuma ( A ward Head)
(4) Mr. Samuel Badung ( A vigilante).

In another related development, suspected Fulani militias attacked and killed one Mr. Emmanuel Joshua, 32 years, a native of Ta-Hoss Community of Riyom Local Government Area just some a kilometer or thereabout away from where IDPs of Kak were attacked, leaving behind his wife, Mrs Sarah Emmanuel and a little baby as well as aged parents.

In an interview, youth leader of Tahoss, Mr. Irmiya James narrated that “at about 3:0Hossof 30th April. 2021, we received a distress call that one of our youth has just been harked dead by some persons suspected to be Fulani along Tahoss-Ganawuri Road. On getting to the scene, pm found Mr. Emmanuel Joshua in a pool of blood and his motorcycle carted away by the assailants,” after which the corpse was evacuated to the mortuary until burial arrangement is concluded.

In the same vein, native inhabitants of Tarai village of Jol Community in Riyom LGA were attack using stones. According to anonymous local source, “it’s very sad after atrocities of Fulani militias in our land, and in spite repeated càution and warnings against grazing into homesteads, Cows have continued to be grazed into our houses and whenever we resist that, attacks or invasion would be visited on us just like it happened yesterday. They us threatened to attack us using stones again with no reason known to us,” the expresses and calls on Government, especially security agents to rise up to the occasion now that raining season is setting in for agricultural activities.

By:

Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, Esq.
Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria (ECCVN)

The post PLATEAU IDPs ON A RUN appeared first on eccvn.

t least three survivors of herdsmen attacks in Central Nigeria’s Plateau State have received grants from a local nongovernmental organization, Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria (ECCVN) to offset their medical bills.

Mr. Victor Markus, 20, was trapped in hospital for nearly two months, after receiving discharge notice, over unpaid bills.

After narrowly surviving a deadly ambush by armed assailants believed to be Herdsmen last October, Victor’s leg was amputated due to ravaging bullet infection.

He was riding on a motorbike with his friend, Mr. Gyang Gwom in the evening when ambushers opened fire, near Vat village in Foron District of Barkin Ladi area.

Gyang, the driver of the bike was hit in the thigh before he escaped. Victor was hit in multiple positions including the amputated leg and left for dead.

At the Jos University Teaching hospital where he was hurried to by local vigilante, Doctors struggled to fix his broken leg bones, but a the fast-spreading infection had already caused massive cell damage.

Victor was full of tears, after the amputation, which was an only option to save his life. He was an only support to his poor widowed mother.

His father died when he was 8, and they have only survived on farming and menial jobs ever since. Victor was saving money for a university or college degree to end his mother’s years of suffering.

His pain was that his new disability might permanently end those dreams. “I feel like dying,” said Victor, in an interview with our Correspondent.

Through encouragement of well-wishers, Victor overcame those suicidal thoughts, until he was handed his hospital bill of close to $1000USD.

“I’ve never seen such an amount of money in my entire life,” said his tearful mother, Mary.

ECCVN and some individuals had donated some funds spent on drugs, food and routine checks during his treatment, it was learnt. Local officials pledged to clear his bills after treatment but failed. His friend, Gyang was discharged on a verbal pledge by the officials. His bill was however less than 40% of Victor’s.

Representatives of ECCVN on Thursday paid both debts “to free them from captivity,” said an Official, Mr. Solomon Dalyop. “What we are doing is just a temporary relief. They are going to need a lot more to pickup life,” said Solomon, a human rights lawyer.

The foundation went on to donate more funds to a local farmers, Mr. Emmanuel Dalyop Fom, who has been crippled for three years after attacking herdsmen chopped his foot with an axe when he went to harvest his crops.

“They said they had warned us to stay off the farms but we wouldn’t listen, for that reason they must kill me. They struck me on the leg with an axe and left me to bleed to death,” said Dalyop.

The affected leg could not be treated due to lack of funds. “The hospital asked me to pay N700,000 (nearly $2000USD) for surgery, but even if I sold my entire belongings, I wouldn’t be able to pay,” said the native of Sho village in Barkin Ladi area. ECCVN’s donation, though less than $1000USD, is a “huge relief”, he said.

Also, a young father of three in Tanjol, a community in Riyom area, attacked several times by herdsmen, Mr. Joshua Doro was donated close to $1000USD to fix his knee shattered by a bullet during an attack last three years that claimed half of his family.

“I was first attacked and while still in hospital, they came back and killed my brothers who were assisting me and my wife, leaving us with no hope for survival,” said Joshua.

Mr. Daniel Sati, 24, a survivor of an ambush that claimed a native of Tashek Hamlet in Riyom, Mr. Amos Elisha, was also donated funds for his hospital bills by the NGO, it was learnt.

The post Nigeria: Cash-trapped survivors of herdsmen attacks get medical relief appeared first on eccvn.