It was again another sad night in the Heipang hamlet located in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, as reports indicate that gunmen massacred another 17 people early on Thursday morning.
According to the Ripples, the testimony of one witness, the victims included the witness’s brother, as well as his wife and children.
The Plateau State Police Command spokesman, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached for comment; however, sources at the command headquarters stated that security personnel had been sent to the village in question.
This comes after the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, opened a Security and Information Centre with the intention of making it easier for members of the public to provide information concerning their safety to the appropriate authorities so that they can take immediate action.
The governor emphasised in a statement that was released on Wednesday and signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, that the centre that was established by the Plateau State Information and Communication Technology Development Agency seeks to bridge the communication divide that exists between the general public and the government.
He went on to say that the centre will make use of fundamental technologies in order to set up a toll-free hotline that will be accessible to citizens at the number 080 0000 5555. This will enable them to exchange information with one another free of charge.
According to Governor Mutfwang, the centre is already functioning, and individuals can call. He emphasised that the cost of all incoming calls will be covered by the state government on behalf of the inhabitants.
The governor also noted that the effort will act as a route for the government to fast receive early warning signals and intervene promptly, while also obtaining feedback on developmental concerns inside the state. This was one of the explanations that were provided by the governor.
He encouraged residents to confidently report security problems from their local communities, assuring them that all information will be treated with the highest confidentiality and that the information will be processed confidentially.
According to the statement, the centre “operates around the clock and is geared towards efficient and effective service delivery, enabling citizens to report any issues relevant to the state.” [residents] are able to report any issues that are relevant to the state.