PLATEAU State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Fr. Polycarp Lubo, has made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to swiftly adopt State Police Policy or opt for the training of Nigerian youths in counter terrorism to help avert the spate of insecurity in the country.
He made the appeal Monday, on the occasion marking 2024 New Year Celebration in an interview with THE NIGERIA STANDARD in Jos, the Plateau State capital shortly after New Year Mass, held at St. Michael Catholic Church Anguldi Bukuru in Jos-South Local Government Area.
The CAN Chairman said, “2023 has come and gone with its ups and downs. Its troubles, difficulties, frustrations and worse of all, the one on Christmas Eve, December 24 to 25 and 26, where there were wanton killings of human beings by armed bandits and loss of foodstuffs and property running into millions of Naira.
“Because of these incidents, people are already displaced into IDPs in Bokkos, Barkin-Ladi and Mangu LGAs. But in all of these, we cannot lose hope because the God that we serve is still there and the best for us.
“What we need in 2024 is resolutions because I have discovered that we have not had a concrete resolution as to how we can tackle our insecurity in the state. Because of lack of resolution, we have been suffering these wanton killings of human beings and loss of property.
“For over twenty-two years now, starting from 2001 to 2023, we have gone through these ugly incidents. Is it the Dogon-Nahauwa, Riyom, Bassa, Barkin-Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu LGAs incidents? They have had their share of these unfortunate happenings too.
“All the governors we had at that time, have had their own experiences of insecurity too. But, the question is; what are the resolutions and the concrete steps that we are going to take now that the 2023 is gone. What would we do differently in 2024 to curb these menaces of taking the lives of human beings? “he asked.
According to the cleric, “We are hopeful people, but we are defenceless people who are pushed to the wall and we do not have any alternative. The president is trying, but we cannot keep waiting or keep relying on the security alone. So, why can’t the government create the State Police?
“This is the right time to create the State Police and it can be of good help to the conventional security apparatus on ground. If they cannot create the State Police, then they should train all our youths who just graduated from secondary schools to know how to deal with arms and also on counter terrorism so that people would be able to defend themselves because it is getting out of hand, you know. It is terrible!
“My appeal to the Federal Government first of all, is to consider the State Police so that it will go on well, and the lives of our people can be saved. At least, the Police would be able to know who a stranger is and can dictate any early warning”, Lubo appealed.
He therefore, called on government to beef up security in those affected areas and the neighbouring communities because those carrying out this dastardly acts do come enmasse and could run over a community within ten minutes. “You can look at the way about 25 communities were simultaneously attacked because the security were not much and they were overwhelmed”
“There are groups of people that are doing these dastard killings. But why can’t the Federal Government war at them and fish them out to find out who they are? We know that the government is also in trouble and unless and until it does something snappy , the federal government would be shocked when they overrun the presidency and ransack it. God forbid!”, CAN Chairman prayed.
Rev. Fr. Lubo, commended the the creation of North Central Development Commission (NCDC). “Yes, the creation of North Central Development Commission is necessary and will give a fast relief and rebuilding of houses for those affected.
“You know, when you have the commission, it will bring a lot of development and solutions to the problems. It has happened in North East and we have seen a development in the zone. It will be a good thing to bring succour to Plateau people”
Meanwhile, the cleric, has encouraged the government to not only dwell on curative measures, but preventive measures. Because waiting until something happens before taking action is not wise, hence the need for the government to respect early warning signs and take it seriously so that it would be able to protect the lives of its citizens.
