Plateau Killings: Defend yourself, it’s constitutional- Lawmaker, Bagos tells constituents

Sequel to the killings that have continued in some communities in Plateau State, the member Representing Jos South and Jos East Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dachung Bagos, on Monday urged residents to defend themselves, insisting it was constitutional to do so.

Recall that 19 people were killed on Saturday and Sunday in Jos South and Mangu LGAs of the state.

Also, a 24-hour curfew was imposed on Mangu LGA on Sunday by Governor Caleb Mutfwang to help restore normalcy in the council.

While reacting to the renewed violence in the LGA, in a statement signed and sent to our correspondent, Bagos a lawmaker, urged the citizenry to protect themselves based on the nation’s constitution, saying “every citizen has the right to self-defence and the right to exercise it”.

“Sadly, innocent citizens are being attacked and killed on a daily bases in Plateau State, particularly in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Mangu LGAs.

“Hundreds have lost their lives since May 2023, and villagers can’t go to their farms, several displaced persons, lands taken over, farmlands destroyed, what a wicked world”, he decried.

“Just on Saturday, twelve people were killed in Mangu and also seven of my constituents who are miners were targeted and gunned down, this is sad, barbaric and must be condemned”, he lamented.

He listed the names of those killed as; Ishaya David, 25 years, Paul Adamu Dangyuruk, 23years, Bitrus Mancha Dantou, Davou Boyi, 40 years, Joseph John, 39years, Timothy Peter, 35 years; all in Turu, Jos South LGA of the State.

“Most of my constituents now live in fear of bandits and the attacks are now daily.

“In the face of this kind of breakdown in the will and capacity of the government to protect the people and their communities, law-abiding citizens must organize to protect themselves”, he admonished.

“The point here is when the government fails in its constitutional role to protect its people, citizens have a legitimate duty in law and morality to ensure the continuity of human life.

“Self-defence is indeed a constitutional right. Under section 14(2)(b) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

“Accordingly, section 17(2)(b) of the same constitution, “the sanctity of the human person shall be recognized and to reinforce this, section 33(2)(a) makes self-defence lawful when undertaken in “defence of any person from unlawful violence or for the defence of property”, he explained.