PYC Kick Against Mosque Construction in Displaced Community, Cites Unresolved Displacement
Our Correspondent
The Plateau Youth Council, PYC, Panyam District has called for an immediate halt to the planned construction of a Juma’at Mosque in Kombili District, Mangu LGA, saying the project is insensitive to families still displaced three years after armed attacks.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade D.S. Mikyes and made available to newsmen, the Council said proceeding with construction while the original inhabitants remain in exile risks reopening wounds and undermining peace efforts in the area.
According to the PYC, gunmen forced residents of Kombili out of their ancestral homes in 2023. Most of the displaced persons are still scattered across Mangu and other parts of Plateau State.
“The continued displacement of these communities remains a source of pain and concern for the affected families and for the wider people of Mangu LGA and Plateau State as a whole,” the statement said.
The Council stressed that its objection was not religious but humanitarian.
“The rights, safety, and dignity of every citizen must be protected irrespective of religion or ethnicity,” Mikyes said.
“A place of worship should be a symbol of reconciliation and hope, not a source of further grievance or a reminder of unresolved displacement.”
The PYC called on the Federal Government, Plateau State Government, security agencies, and humanitarian organizations to intervene.
The PYC demanded the halting of the construction of the mosque until all legal, ethical, and humanitarian issues are addressed.
It also called for an investigation into the circumstances of the displacement and prosecute those responsible.
The youth body further demanded the urgent facilitation of the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of displaced persons back to the ancestral homes.
They further called on the authorities to ensure all actions in conflict-affected areas comply with the law and promote justice and reconciliation.
The PYC echoed that position, calling on “all parties to avoid actions or statements that could further inflame tensions and instead work together toward lasting peace and the restoration of affected communities.”
While the Council did not name the promoters of the mosque project, it insisted that lawful land ownership and respect for victims must guide any construction in conflict zones.
They also called for the strengthening of security in the area and surrounding communities.
Mangu LGA has experienced repeated cycles of attacks and reprisals in recent years, leading to the sacking of villages, abandonment of farmlands, and mass displacement.
As of press time, officials of Mangu LGA and the Plateau State Government were yet to react to the demands by the PYC.
20
Post Comment