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From Jude Dangwam, Jos
Some communities in Bokkos, Mangu and Barkin-Ladi local governments, Plateau State, on the Christmas Eve came under coordinated attacks by unidentified gunmen. The tragedy left over 300 villagers dead and properties worth billions of naira destroyed.
The massacre was the second of its kind in 2023, the previous being attacks on Murish community, Kombun District, Mangu LG on April 14, 2023, killing 200 in cold blood.
National Publicity Secretary, Berom Youth Moulder Association (BYM), Twang Tengwos, said these attacks raised concern on the sincerity of the security agencies deployed to save lives in the area:
“There is compromise. We might be right, we might be wrong. But from our interactions with our people we sense compromise. If you go to NTV community, where the attack was carried out, there is a military checkpoint before the community, less than one kilometre away. But 10 villagers were killed there. Our findings revealed that there was no intervention of any kind by the military at the checkpoint during the attack.
“We got an intelligence report that there was going to be an attack on all the listed communities that were attacked. We got the security intelligence around 3.00 pm on December 24, 2023. We shared it with the security agencies.
“But at the end of the day, the attackers came, succeeded and no one person was arrested till date. And all those are legitimate security intelligence because they often come to fulfilment.
“Another area where we sense compromise was after the attack. On Friday, December 29, 2023, Wurom in Barkin-Ladi LG was brought down completely. The remaining houses standing were demolished to foundation by Fulani.
We pleaded on December 24, 2023, that security agents should be there because the people were afraid. It was not until days after the attacks that security people were sent down. That was after the damages had been done.”
Chairman, Plateau State Civil Society Organisations Forum (PCSOF), Chris Damcher, said: “From our observation and what is glaringly taking place in Plateau State is the sprouting of strange new Fulani settlements and herders at the footage of the hills all around the northern and parts of the central zones of the state.
“Meanwhile, the original owners of the lands have been displaced and sacked to new home at the Internally Displaced Person Camps (IDPs) and other host communities where they are out of touch with economic realities at home. As soon as they are displaced and gone, their lands are immediately taken over by the Fulani.
“The painful aspect of this situation is that there is no government and traditional institutions that is sticking out to oppose this or to ensure quick return of the displaced persons to their ancestral land, none! The grabbers are moving around freely and molesting citizens here and there.
“Based on our on-the-spot assessment, so far, 30 communities were attacked, 295 persons dead, 98 injured and hospitalised, 1,300 houses burnt, 227 motorcycles destroyed and thousands of persons displaced. That is too heavy for us.
“Over the years, the killing in Plateau State has been mischievously and erroneously tagged, ‘farmers-herders clash.’ This misleading narrative has left so many questions unanswered. I wonder whether attacking innocent communities in their sleep at midnight with machine guns amounted to a farmers-herders clash”
President, Plateau Initiative for Development of the Natives (PIDAN), a socio-cultural body of all indigenous inhabitants of various communities, Prof. Aboi Aboki, said: “We might not know those attacking us because it is mostly carried out in the night. But we know those occupying our lands after the attacks are Fulani herdsmen. It is simply logical to suspect them.
“Let government question them whenever there is an attack. That should be the starting point of tracking the mass murderers. But those who suddenly occupy our communities after the attacks are never questioned nor punished.
“That is the big puzzle. Our government certainly owes us an explanation why certain lines of suspicion are never followed and certain people are never questioned.”
He also expressed concern over the failure of security agencies to act promptly on early warning signals: “It is responsible for the success of the unabated attacks and killings of innocent villagers, including the destruction of their properties.
“There is an organised, well planned criminal attacks on going and against the people of Plateau State. And we don’t know why the security agencies had found it difficult to take the early warning signals seriously.
“The failure of early response to early warning signals actually contributed to the large number of casualties we recorded in the attacks in Bokkos, Barkin-Ladi and Riyom LGs.”
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, directed the deployment of more personnel into the state to arrest the recurrent brutal attacks on innocent communities. Commissioner of Police, Julius Alawari, indicated that over 100 additional manpower of the Special Armed Police Force were deployed in troubled areas.
He tasked the deployed officers to demonstrate valour and professionalism in discharging their duties urging them to work in synergy with sister security agencies to restore normally in the area
Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang charged the police: “In the pursuit of these criminals, sometimes some of the overzealous security officers end up fighting scapegoats among the victims. This will not augur well.
“It is traumatic for a community to see that the young people that stood up to provide the first defence line to the communities before security agencies came are shot or arrested as culprits. When we share intelligence among ourselves, we will be able to deal with this monster.
“This is not about ethnic or religious issues but criminals. We must work to prove to the people that we are dealing with these issues. The only way of dealing with these is by exposing the culprits, arresting them and prosecuting them. The people will know that we are serious.
“The attackers may not be the problem, but those behind the attacks. Who are their sponsors? It is difficult for 100 people to have a conspiracy. That is where we must focus on. As a government and Plateau people, we are ready to work closely with the police.”
