The Federal Government was last week accused of not doing enough to quell the reoccurring killings in Plateau State. Irked by the incessant crisis that has engulfed the state in recent time, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, while paying a sympathy visit on Governor Caleb Muftwang, called on the Federal Government to sit up and use the instrumentality of the security apparatus they control to end the embarrassing situation.
Bala Mohammed, Bauchi State governor and Chairman of the forum, while speaking on behalf of the Governors during the visit, to condole with Governor Muftwang on the unfortunate killings in Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas, said if the FG could not handle the situation, they should give powers to the State to create their own police.
Mohammed said the creation of vigilante by the States had helped to mitigate and reduce the spate of heinous crimes in various localities, adding that State policing would even do more in reducing the incessant crisis not only in Plateau but across the country. Mohammed insisted that each governor knew the peculiarity of his state.
Said he: “I have always been advocating for this; there is a need for the decentralisation of the security apparatus so that we can deliver good governance by having State police. Again, it will allow us to engage the structure of the security agencies, train our youths and make sure the rules of engagement are not abused and there are no extrajudicial killings.
“We will work in tandem with the established best global practice. We can see what is happening in Zamfara and the Amotekun in the South-West where citizens are sleeping with their eyes closed”.
Added he while commiserating with Governor Mutfwang: “We came to express our heartfelt condolences, on behalf of those who are not here with us. Be strong and continue to dispense good leadership that the PDP governors are known for. The Nigerian government should look into the issues in Plateau and address them holistically. We should be allowed to have State Police”.
Responding, Governor Mutfwang appreciated his colleagues for the visit and show of solidarity, stating that the issues in the State had become a national one that should not be allowed to linger beyond this point.
The six governors on the visit were Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, and Godwin Obaseki of Edo with the sum of N100million donated to the survivors.
