NBA Plateau: Alleges Plateau Curfew Attacks Amidst Rising Violence

• The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Plateau State alleges that communities observing government-imposed curfews are being openly attacked by terrorists.
• The NBA highlighted the government's failure to protect lives and property, citing ongoing killings in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Bokkos Local Government Areas.
• The association emphasized that Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees every person's right to life, underscoring the state's fundamental responsibility.
• Specific incidents included the killing of community vigilantes in Kikyo village, Mangu LGA, by terrorists during curfew hours.
• The NBA warned that unchecked violence fosters impunity, erodes public confidence, and signals a dangerous breakdown of law and order.

The NBA warned that unchecked violence fosters impunity, erodes public confidence, and signals a dangerous breakdown of law and order, suggesting citizens are losing faith in the state's protective capabilities.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Plateau State has brought serious allegations to light, claiming that communities observing government-imposed curfews are being openly targeted by terrorists amidst a resurgence of killings across the state. This concerning development was highlighted during a joint press conference held on Monday at the NUJ Secretariat in Jos, where representatives from all four NBA branches in Plateau State—Jos, Pankshin, Bukuru, and Shendam—voiced their alarm.

Morgan Dung, the Chairman of the NBA Jos Branch, delivered the statement on behalf of the collective, which included Selven Zingman (Pankshin), Lucy Pam-Fom Bot (Bukuru), and Sylvia Kumtong (Shendam). The association pointed to the persistent violence in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Bokkos Local Government Areas as clear evidence of the Nigeria government failure protect citizens and their assets. The lawyers specifically condemned what they described as gruesome and sustained attacks on residents.

Of particular concern to the NBA was the brazen disregard shown by terrorists for the curfews instituted by authorities. The association reported that while law-abiding citizens adhered to these restrictions, attackers freely targeted communities. A tragic instance cited involved community vigilantes in Kikyo village, Mangu Local Government Area, who were killed at their duty post by terrorists during curfew hours. Further incidents of violence were reported in Cantoma and Bin-Per villages within Mangu LGA, as well as Kasa village in the Marit District of Barkin Ladi LGA, underscoring the widespread nature of the Plateau State Mangu Barkin Ladi attacks.

The Nigerian Bar Association Plateau State firmly asserted that the protection of lives and property stands as the most fundamental responsibility of any government, a duty they believe has been consistently unfulfilled in the face of ongoing violence. The association underscored this by referencing Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which outlines fundamental rights. Specifically, they highlighted Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution, which unequivocally states that every individual possesses a right to life and cannot be intentionally deprived of it, except through the execution of a court order for a criminal offense.

This constitutional mandate, according to the NBA, places an undeniable obligation on the government to safeguard its citizens. The association expressed strong disapproval of the authorities' perceived inability to prevent the continuous loss of lives and property, not only in Plateau State but across Nigeria. The NBA's stance emphasizes that the current spate of Plateau communal violence legal implications extend to the very core of governance, challenging the state's commitment to its foundational principles.

The lawyers argued that the unchecked violence and the pattern of attacks during curfews represent a grave threat, potentially leading to total anarchy and a complete breakdown of law and order. This situation, they contend, exposes a critical lapse in the government's adherence to its constitutional duties, particularly concerning the 1999 Constitution Section 33 right to life.

The unabated violence, as articulated by the NBA, has fostered a dangerous sense of impunity among perpetrators, sending a message that human life holds little value in Nigeria. This, in turn, has significantly eroded public confidence, leading citizens to rapidly lose faith in the state's capacity to protect them. The association lamented that some communities have been entirely displaced, with their lands allegedly seized, occupied, and subsequently renamed, leaving survivors without homes or recourse.

While commending President Bola Tinubu for his visit to Plateau State to condole with victims of the Jos North killings and for his advocacy for state police and citizen security training, the NBA urged the Federal Government to take more decisive action. The association specifically demanded that the government go further by sponsoring an Executive Bill aimed at domiciling security, implying a need for more localized and effective security frameworks. The NBA warned that unchecked violence fosters impunity, erodes public confidence, and signals a dangerous breakdown of law and order, suggesting citizens are losing faith in the state's protective capabilities.

This article highlights the Nigerian Bar Association's assertion of the government's failure to uphold its constitutional duty (Section 33, 1999 Constitution) to protect lives and property in Plateau State. Lawyers should note these arguments for potential human rights litigation against the state for negligence or failure to protect citizens, particularly in conflict zones where state-imposed curfews are disregarded by attackers. It also signals a critical legal and ethical concern regarding the rule of law and state accountability that may influence future legal advocacy or policy changes.

Source: Original reporting via Punch