Evacuation order: PLSG sets up camps for affected communities

[DT]

The Plateau State Government on Monday said it  has set up camps to accommodate and provide immediate relief to  residents being displaced by the military order to vacate some  communities.

The Military Special Task Force (STF) on Saturday directed inhabitants  of five crises-torn villages in the state to vacate the settlements to  pave way for a ``military operation''.

Maj Gen Henry Ayoola, who gave the order in Jos, said that the villages –  Mahanga, Kakuruk, Kuzen, Maseh and Shong 2, were in Barkin and Riyom  Local governments.

The order has been criticised by some members of the public, who have  accused the STF of not providing alternative base for those to be  affected.

The state Commissioner for Information, Abraham Yiljap, however in a  statement in Jos said that Gov. Jonah Jang had set up a special  committee that was already catering for persons displaced by the order.

"Already, the committee is working with authorities of the two local  governments and has designated areas to receive and provide relief to  the displaced persons.

"In Riyom, camps identified are the Ra-Hos Primary School Community Hall and the old Local Government secretariat.

"In Barkin-Ladi, camps identified are Kura Falls and COCIN Gangare in Barkin-Ladi town,'' Yiljap explained.

The commissioner said that government had begun relief interventions in  the affected areas, and advised persons yet to be attended to, to reach  out to the local government authorities of their respective areas.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the military order  followed incessant attacks on the settlements by gunmen that had killed  scores of persons, including Sen. Gyang Dantong and the Majority Leader  of the Plateau House of Assembly, Gyang Fulani.

Daily Trust