The Commissioner for Information and Communication in Plateau, Mr Dan Manjang, has advised the internally displaced communities who have complaints of land-grabbing to seek legal redress to handle the situation.
The commissioner made the call at a news conference on Sunday in Jos.
He said that Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau signed the anti land- grabbing, kidnapping and cultism law, “to handle criminals who want to use force, intimidation or clandestine means to take over lands that do not belong to them.
“if you have an issue, there are enabling laws, go to courts, go to security agencies and follow due process.
“You have to prove the land belongs to you and have not being sold so and it still remains your ancestral home, follow due process and reclaim you land”.
He said the law was also established to enable the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to resettle in their ancestral homes and continue with their source of livelihoods.
He added that reports were already submitted by two committees set up by the Lalong administration to facilitate resettlement of those displaced and collate their data.
He said the state government was working on measures to build the confidence of some IDPs to ensure their safety in their communities.
“The people must have confidence that they are secured that is why in Gashish community (Riyom Local Government Area), we are still having talks for a semblance of a mobile police barrack to be established there,” he said.
Manjang said government was distributing relief items through leaders of displaced persons for fairness and accountability.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the federal government donated relief materials to Plateau in 2021 conveyed by Mrs Sadiya Farouk, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
Items donated included 2,000 bags of 10kg rice, maize and beans; 144 kegs of 20 litres of vegetable oil, 200 cartons of beverages , 600 bags of cements and 600 pieces of ceiling board, among others.(NAN)
