The Member Representing Barkin Ladi-Riyom Federal Constituency, Hon. Dalyop Fom Chollom, has raised serious concerns over the persistent insecurity ravaging his constituency, calling on the federal government and relevant authorities to rise above silence and act decisively.
Speaking passionately while briefing the Humanitarian Affairs Minister at Riyom Community Hall, the lawmaker lamented that the communities under siege are not dealing with invisible forces, but with real, traceable individuals. “These attackers are not invisible. They come from somewhere. They live among us. And yet, the system continues to pretend not to see them,” he stated.
Hon. Fom emphasized that the people affected by the violence are not just numbers or news statistics, but human beings with hopes, homes, and histories. He questioned why no significant efforts have been made to trace the sources of the deadly arms used to terrorize his people.
He stressed that beyond the endless media coverage and sympathies, what the people crave is action. “We don’t want to keep appearing on camera with no change. We want to see the power of governance in motion,” he said.
The lawmaker warned that the continuous displacement of farmers from their lands poses a bigger threat to national security. He noted that if farmers can no longer access their farms, it is not just an economic problem — it is a sign of looming conflict.
He also drew attention to the broader implications of insecurity on national productivity, highlighting that even electricity workers are now unable to function in some rural areas. This, he said, is further crippling the region’s economy and development potential.
Tourism, which once thrived in parts of Plateau State, has also been abandoned, he said, due to fear and the breakdown of safety. “What was once a clean and attractive environment has now become inaccessible. We are losing everything,” he added.
Hon. Fom called for the establishment of new and functional platforms that will allow traditional rulers and local stakeholders to participate in restoring peace, arguing that many of the perpetrators of violence are taking refuge within communities.
He questioned the shift from peaceful coexistence to hostility in the region, wondering aloud how a land that once embraced diversity now bleeds from it. “What changed? Who introduced this chaos among us?”
The federal lawmaker ended with a strong plea for practical solutions, urging the government not to treat the region as a forgotten space. “This is a national emergency,” he said. “And we must act before the silence becomes permanent.”
Earlier, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has assured the people of Plateau State that the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is fully committed to restoring peace in the state.
He emphasized that the pain felt by Plateau people is not theirs alone but a national sorrow. “This is not the kind of news we want Plateau to be known for,” the Minister said. He noted that the President is deeply concerned and has promised to provide the needed security apparatus to restore calm, including the deployment of soldiers and more security forces.
To show immediate support, the Minister brought 200 bags of rice and undisclosed cash token for the affected families. He said this was a token of compassion and solidarity from the Federal Government while long-term solutions are being developed. “We must do everything possible to preserve life,” he stressed.
The Minister encouraged Plateau citizens to take ownership of peacebuilding efforts. He urged religious, traditional, and community leaders to actively engage their people in dialogue. “Whether you are Muslim or Christian, we must speak to one another,” he advised, adding that real enemies must be identified and addressed together.
