Plateau State governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Kefas Ropshik Wungak, has called on the state government to declare a full-blown state of emergency on insecurity following recent attacks in Garga, Kanam Local Government Area and Mangu Vegetable Market.
Wungak, popularly known as Kefiano, also condemned the attacks, which reportedly left scores of people dead and injured, and called on the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to protect residents and prevent further killings.
In a Press statement he issued on Saturday, Wungak commiserated with families of those killed in the attacks and wished those receiving treatment speedy recovery.
He said, “The persistent insecurity is hugely dire on the entire state, ranging from individuals’ health to crushing the economy by depriving farmers from going to their farms and having so many of them in refugee camps, thereby escalating food insecurity.”
Wungak said the continued attacks had also created fear and trauma among residents, particularly those living in affected communities and their relatives in urban centres who were constantly worried about the safety of their loved ones.
He said, “The persistent insecurity is bedrock for trauma due to fear in citizens, especially those living in affected areas in the villages and towns and in their relations living in the city who are constantly worried over the safety of their loved ones in the rural areas.
“Likewise, commuters plying routes through such places are constantly exposed to fear and uncertainty.”
The PDP candidate therefore called on the state government to declare a full-blown state of emergency on insecurity and deploy all available intelligence to identify and apprehend the gunmen responsible for attacks across the state.
Wungak said, “The state government should declare full-blast state of emergency on insecurity in the state before it totally gets out of hand, and deploy all intelligence to arrest unknown gunmen causing havoc in the state.
“The menace is too much as it does not spare children, youth, adults and the aged across the entire state.”
He also urged residents to remain security conscious and work with their communities to strengthen local vigilance and provide timely information to security agencies.
Wungak said residents should establish warning mechanisms and report suspicious movements or activities to security agencies at the earliest opportunity.
He, however, cautioned residents against reprisal attacks, urging them to cooperate with security agencies in efforts to restore peace and security across the state.
He said, “Citizens should be very security conscious and work in synergy as communities to protect themselves, set up warning signs and notify the security agencies at the slightest suspicious signs.
“They should also shun reprisal attacks and cooperate with security agencies.”
