Plateau attacks: Community buries 106, LGA chair says many missing
The Chairman of the Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State, Dayyabu Garga has decried last Sunday’s invasion of several communities in the council area by gunmen.
The chairman, who spoke on Thursday when the federal lawmaker representing the Pankshin/ Kanke/Kanam Constituency, Yusuf Gagdi, paid him a visit, said they had so far buried 106 persons while others were still missing.
Gagdi said many were severely injured and receiving treatment in different on different in different hospitals across the state.
He said the attackers were camping in the Kamabari Forest in the neighbouring Taraba State.
The chairman stated, “We must flush them out of the forest in Taraba State is like their village where they freely move AK47 and other weapons.
“They want to turn the forest into Sambisa. If they are not flushed out, we will not be safe”.
He commended the lawmaker for abandoning his lesser Hajj to assist the people and called on all sons of Kanam community to unite and defeat the common enemy, adding that the local government on its part was taking charge of the hospital bills of persons injured apart from the assorted food materials donated.
Gagdi said he had moved a motion for the setting up of permanent military bases and a Mobile Police Squadron in Kanam, Plateau State.
According to him, his motion received approval and military bases would be established in strategic areas, particularly where Kanam shared boundaries with other states.
The lawmaker described the attacks in Garga district as a sad and difficult moment for the Kanam people.
Gagdi, who is House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Navy, said prior to the attacks, Kanam used to be the safest and most peaceful area in the state.
“As the Chairman, House Committee on Navy. I can say that other areas in Nigeria have experienced similar attacks but the response given to the Garaga attack is unique”.
The lawmaker commended the chairmen of Kanam and Wase for showing leadership in the difficult moment.
