by 
Concerned lawyers in Plateau State in a bid to intensify efforts to curtail attacks on Plateau communities, have cautioned elites especially politicians, against actions or inactions that can cause disaffection among the ethnic groups.
The lawyers, under the aegis of the United Mwaghavul Lawyers Association, in a statement sighted by TheLoyal Nigerian Lawyer , made a point that all ethnic groups were victims of the attacks at one time or the other— and advised the elites to desist from acts or omissions that can fuel crisis.
Reacting to a recent press briefing by Chief Sylvanus Lot, former Secretary to the Plateau government
Lot, who addressed newsmen in Jos on behalf of “Plateau Patriots’’, made a controversial comment blaming a particular ethnic group for the invasion of the Plateau Government House by women and youths protesting the incessant attacks.
The lawyers, in the statement signed by two Trustees of their association – Messrs Philemon Dafi and Alfred Danbaba – described Lot’s claims as “strange and worrisome’’.
“We, as Mwaghavul lawyers, are worried about such provocative and highly emotional statements made by Lot, a Mwaghavul elder.
“We are also disturbed about the factual inaccuracies contained in the claims and have been wondering what purpose they were intended to serve.
“As critical stakeholders of the Mwaghavul nation, we wish to dissociate ourselves from both the content and motive of Lot’s claims, and wish to tell the world that the lingering crises on the Plateau is targeted at the entire state,’’ it said.
The statement pointed out that “any attempt to pit one Plateau ethnic nationality against the other is a trap the enemy of our common heritage will like us to buy into, to our collective detriment’’.
The lawyers declared that the Mwaghavul nation would always share the pains and anguish of every victim of attack in the state “no matter his tribe’’, asserting that “the statement by our elder is not representative of the thinking of the Mwaghavul nation.’’
“Anyone conversant with the happenings on the Plateau cannot attempt to limit the violence to one particular ethnic nationality because virtually all the groups have been hit at one point or the other.
“The attackers have hit every part – the Irigwe people in Bassa, the Ganawuri in Riyom, the Mwaghavul in Mangu, the Tarok in Langtang, the Goemai in Shendam and the Ron/Kulere in Bokkos, where a First Class Chief was killed in 2016. No one has been spared.
“As a people, we must resist every provocation and inducement to turn against ourselves; we should not dissipate energy on name calling. We must unite and protect each other,’’ they advised.
The lawyers condemned the mob action but averred that it was “not right’’ to see them as politically motivated.
“Such stance may lead to sacrificing the truth on the altar of political correctness,’’ the lawyers opined.
The United Mwaghavul Lawyers Association, appealed to elders in crises-ridden communities to always prevail on angry youths not to turn their anger on innocent passengers, and urged stakeholders to sincerely dig into the root causes of the attacks and proffer solutions.
It urged Plateau elders to initiate measures that would ensure the immediate return of the IDPs to their respective homes “considering the horrible state of the 31 IDPs camps spread across Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Riyom and Jos South Local Governments’’.
The lawyers appealed to genuine Plateau patriots to “do everything humanly possible’’ to unite the people toward building a peaceful and prosperous state.
TheLoyal Nigerian Lawyers commends the United Mwaghavul Lawyers Association for their efforts to foster peace and harmony in Plateau State.
