The Plateau Peace Building Agency, PPBA, has condemned the wanton destruction of farmland in Rotsu Community in Miango Chiefdom of Bassa Local Government Area of the state by some criminal elements.
The Director-General of the agency, Joseph Lengmang, made the condemnation in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Jos.
According to Mr Lengmang, the incident which occurred on July 16, was allegedly perpetrated by some herdsmen.
He said the dastardly act posed serious security threats and capable of throwing the community into chaos.
“We received with shock and dismay the news of the destruction of a community farm in Rotsu village, Miango District of Bassa.
“The act, which was allegedly perpetrated by some herdsmen, is condemnable and a calculated attempt to plunge the area into chaos.
“In line with our mandate of promoting the culture of peace and harmonious coexistence in the state, we strongly condemn the unprovoked and unwarranted destruction of this well intended community effort that would have significantly complemented our quest for self-sufficiency in food production,” he said.
The director-general also said that the crime was capable of truncating the efforts of government and other organisations at ensuring the return of lasting peace to all parts of the state.
He called on the people of the community to remain calm and not to take the laws into their hands, urging security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the crime and be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“While sympathising with the people of the community over this unfortunate incident, we call on them to remain calm and resolute in their determination to explore pathways to peace, and to cooperate with all relevant state and non-state actors in putting an end to these unprovoked attacks and other forms of violence in the area.
“No doubt this is yet another sad moment in our collective search for peace, but we must not despair even in the face of such setbacks.
“We call on the security operatives vested with the responsibility of checking crime and criminality in the state not to rest on their oars in fishing out the perpetrators of this heinous act with a view to ensuring that they face the full weight of the law,” he said.
NAN
