Plateau community opposes grazing as blind student laments killing of wife and children

The killing of his family happened in his presence, but he could neither see them nor their killers. He only heard their piercing and blood-curdling cries, and then, silence. Mr Mathew Evi Vigye is blind.

“My wife who has been my eye, my children who have been my hope they are no more. I dont know how I can start life all over again. I really need your prayers, I bid you out there please help me,” the devastated, scared and lonely Vigye said.

Speaking when the Executive Secretary National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (PLWD), Mr James David Lalu paid a condolence visit on him, Vigye, a University of Jos student and one of the People Living With Disability (PLWD), told how his family was killed by unknown bandits in Dong Village, Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State.

The unfortunate incident occurred on the 23rd of May, 2021 at about 8pm local time when the bandits invaded Vigye’s house and wiped out his family of a wife and two children.

The Executive Secretary, however assured the family of Vigye that NCPWD would do anything within its statutory rights to assist them.

Meanwhile, a group, under aegis of Concern Youth of Tudun Wada and Dong communities of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau has called on the state government to ban grazing around the forest of Jos Wildlife Park.

The group made the call when it visited families affected by the recent attacks in Dong, on Tuesday in Jos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen had on May 23, attacked and killed seven persons in Dong community.

Mr Yohana Izang, Secretary of the group, said the continued grazing at the wildlife park had constituted security threats to Dong and Tudun Wada communities bordering the park.

According to him, the forest of the wildlife part is restricted, hence should not harbour humans but animals only and should strictly be reserved for recreational purposes.

“As you all know, Dong community has been under siege lately; in fact, just last week, gunmen attacked the community and killed seven persons including a baby.

“To curtail the spate of attacks in Dong and Tudun Wada, communities bordering the Jos wildlife park, we want to call on government to ban grazing in the park.

“The park is a restricted forest and so no human being other than animals should be allowed to graze or even live there.