lateau State government yesterday said it has set machinery in motion to ensure safe return and resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had indicated interest to return to their communities in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas of the state.
Secretary to the Government of Plateau State (SSG), Prof. Danladi Atu, who is also the head of a high-powered government committee on the resettlement of IDPs in the state, disclosed at the weekend that their resettlement and rehabilitation would be carried out in three phases.
According to Atu, the first phase would be providing security, which would be done by a combined team of the Nigerian Police, Operation Safe Have (OPSH), Operation Rainbow, Neighbourhood Watch, Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and other security outfits, which would create the enabling environment for the second phase; the reconstruction of burnt-down houses and economic empowerment.
He added that the third phase would be the provision of basic social amenities such as feeder roads, pipe-borne water, reconstruction of schools and healthcare facilities, as well as reintegration of communities affected by the crises of the recent past.
While calling on stakeholders, particularly non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), corporate groups and other public-spirited individuals to join hands with the state government in ensuring that the IDPs were resettled within a short time, Atu commended Governor Simon Lalong for his forthrightness at peacebuilding and employing inclusive governance, which he said had paved the way for the return of peace in the state, especially to troubled spots.
The SSG then performed the symbolic presentation of assorted food items, building materials like cement, bundles of corrugated zinc, wood, nails and agricultural implements like water pumping machines, etc to the returnees, stressing that government took the decision to provide them with the items to allow them to reconstruct their homes to suit their needs.
In their separate remarks, however, Council Chairmen of Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Governments, Ezekiel Mandyau and Mafeng Gwalson expressed delight over the development, describing it as timely, as according to them, the people had stayed away from their homes and sources of livelihood for years, ranging from one to seven years.
They urged both the state and federal governments to do more to assuage the plight of the IDPs, who they lamented, had lost loved ones, especially breadwinners and even sources of livelihood to get back on their feet.
Hon. Dachollom Jambol, who spoke on behalf of the returnees at Riyom Local Government, called on the state government to ensure that adequate security was provided for them, stressing that most of the returnees had no homes to go back.
In the same vein, Da Gwom Rwei of Riyom District, Da Sam Jok, expressed satisfaction with the move, saying that the people who were once productive and industrious can now go back to their vocations and trade after a very long time.
Da Jok promised to continue to work closely with their Fulani counterparts in the locality to curb all forms of crime and criminality while ensuring that those variables that led to the violence of the past were addressed collectively.
On his part, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Youth Leader, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf, admonished youths in the area to shun violence and all divisive tendencies that could lead to breakdown of law and order in their respective communities and the state even as he pledged his members’ commitment to living in peace with their neighbours.