Christian Youths from Benue, Southern Bauchi, Southern Kaduna and Plateau have called for the review of the security architecture in their various communities to strengthen community policing.
The Christian youths also called on the political class to desist from politicising security challenges bedeviling the areas, saying such actions could lead to a breakdown of law and order.
This call was made by the spokesman of the youths, Mr Jethro Doyum Moor, during a press briefing in Jos, Plateau State, on Friday
DAILY POST recalls that the areas have been battling with security challenges for years now, which has claimed scores of lives and displaced many people from their ancestral lands.
Moor said, “We reject the false narrative of farmers-herders clash (or land/communal clash) used in describing these attacks and demand that a spade be called a spade. What is going on is deliberate ethnic cleansing.
“This would help Nigeria find lasting solutions to the incessant attacks on our communities.
“We demand the immediate return (and not just resettlement) of our people who have been displaced from their ancestral lands (homes).
“We demand that state governments in all affected states issue certificates of occupancy to all displaced persons over their ancestral lands to recognise their genuine titles.
“We demand that the right of farmers to cultivate their farmlands without harassment from cattle rearers be recognized by law and protected.
“We are aware that the attackers (religious extremist) are well armed with sophisticated
weapons, we therefore demand that they be disarmed to guard against other Nigerians taking up arms in self-defense.
“We demand that the perpetrators be arrested and prosecuted according to the law because they are not spirits.
“Security actors should be impartial and professional in carrying out their constitutional duties of protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians irrespective of religious inclinations.
“We call for speedy trials for indigenous Christian youths in detention by security forces.
“We call on government at all levels to always ensure the equal distribution of the
commonwealth of the people irrespective of religious inclinations.
“We call on the government of Bauchi State to respect the right and wishes of the people of Zaar Chiefdom to nominate their chief without the imposition from any quarter.
“A review of the security architecture to strengthen community policing which would increase the confidence of the communities in the security forces.”
He maintained that meeting the demands will restore the faith of the affected communities in the government.
Speaking further, he said, “These millions of people whom are already displaced and are living as IDPs in the Nigerian State, and allow them to see that the government is committed to justice which is fundamental to peace.
“It must also be looked into as a matter of urgency, that the political class should desist from politicising these situations as it could lead to a breakdown of law and order.”
Christian youths demand review of security architecture in Bauchi, Kaduna, Benue, Plateau
