Neighbourhood Watch, a local security outfit being
put together by the Plateau State government is the only solution to
the incessant midnight attacks on Plateau villages, Gyang Dantong, a
senator, has said.
Hundreds of people, especially women and children,
have been killed in attacks on various villages in Plateau by
unidentified persons suspected to be herdsmen. The attackers usually
invade their targets in the midnight, set the houses ablaze and kill
the fleeing occupants, after which they would disappear.
Mr. Dantong, who represents Plateau North in the
National Assembly, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on
Wednesday that Neighbourhood Watch would be the only solution as its
personnel could help track down the attackers.
“Most of the villages attacked are around the
mountains and the valleys; the personnel of the outfit will be from
these communities who know the terrain,” he said.
On fears from the Fulani, Hausa and other groups
over the composition and possible misuse of the outfit, Mr. Dantong
said that the personnel for the outfit were being recruited from all
ethnic groups in the state.
“Those being recruited are from across all the
groups, so the fear that it would be used for witch hunt is unfounded.
All segments of the population are being represented at all the
levels,” he said.
