Many Feared Dead in Plateau Communal Dispute

A deadly communal dispute over land in Ponglong, situated in the Lalin district of Mikang Local Government Area of Plateau State, has left numerous casualties and a trail of destruction in its wake.

According to local sources, the violence erupted on Saturday night and persisted until Sunday morning before security forces managed to quell the unrest.

Confirming the incident, Daniel Kunmi, the chairperson of the transition committee of Mikang LGA, addressed reporters in Jos on Sunday, detailing the grim aftermath of the confrontation. “Within a short time, the situation degenerated, leading to the burning down of houses and barns. Several criminal elements took advantage of the unfortunate incident and rustled cattle as well as other valuables,” he stated.

Kunmi further informed that the local authorities promptly notified security operatives, who swiftly intervened to restore law and order. However, the exact casualty figures remain unconfirmed. “I just returned from the affected community and the situation is under control, but for now, we cannot ascertain the number of persons killed in the clash,” he remarked, emphasizing the need for a coordinated response involving stakeholders from neighboring areas.

Expressing concern over the escalating violence, Musa Ashoms, the Commissioner for Information, attributed the clash to a contested piece of land. “It started as a result of a land dispute. The land in question cannot even produce six bags of rice, and you know when people are attached to their land, they can go the extra mile,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, the state’s Commissioner of Police is expected to visit the affected community to assess the situation firsthand.

This incident adds to a series of recent violent communal disputes across various regions of Plateau State, including Wase, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Qua’an Pan, Shendam, Mikang, and Langtang North and South. Human Rights Watch reports that between 2,000 and 3,000 lives have been lost in violent crises in the state since September 2001, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable peace-building measures in the state