Makurdi, Nigeria
Celeb Mutfwang, Governor of Plateau State, says no fewer than 64 communities in the state have been displaced by terrorists who are occupying the areas and some schools.
Mutfwang spoke in reaction to the recent attack in the State, highlighted the immense burden placed on the state by the continuous displacement of citizens due to terrorist activities.
Speaking on Channels TV on Tuesday, said the residents of Pleateu celebrated Christmas with heavy hearts with not less than 17 communities attacked.
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.”
The Governor condemned the perceived inaction under the previous administration, adding that residents felt the terrorists were given official government backing.
He emphasised that the current occupation of schools took time, 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 terrorist 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.