“Why can’t we be proactive and stop such attacks before they happen?” – Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III
The senseless Christmas eve carnage unleashed on at least 28 communities in Mangu, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local Council Areas of Plateau State is primitive, totally awful, barbaric and condemnable. Reports from different media platforms on the incident show that over 150 innocent people were murdered in their sleep by heartless invaders while about 221 houses were burnt down and more than 10,000 persons currently displaced. The mayhem unleashed on the affected peaceful rural communities is the worst according to reports since 2018. The attack according to reliable community sources was said to have been carried out even when notice of the impending disaster was announced through a letter dated November, 15 sent to the communities by the perpetrators of the dastardly act. The question is – what did government and the security agencies responsible for protecting lives and properties do?
Responding to the attack, the governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang condemned it in clear and unambiguous terms. He however, isolated it as pure criminality perpetrated on the eve of a revered religious occasion by dare devils in human flesh. In an interview on Channels television, Mutfwang, stated, “This has indeed been a very gory Christmas for us. We have had to celebrate with a heavy heart. Just when people had finished preparing for Christmas celebrations, unprovoked attacks were unleashed on several of our communities. As I am talking to you, in Mangu Local Government alone, we buried at least 15 people. So far this morning in the Bokkos Local Government, we were counting not less than 100 corpses. I have yet to take stock of that of Barkin Ladi.
Most of the communities affected in Barkin Ladi share a border with the Bokkos Local Government. He further disclosed that no fewer than 64 communities in the state had been displaced by terrorists who were occupying schools in the local government area. He said, when people are dislocated from their villages and if they stay away from those communities for a sustained period, the terrorists would come in. As I am talking to you, in the Riyom Local Government and in Barkin Ladi Local Government, schools have been occupied by these terrorists for almost a number of years now. We have not less than 64 communities that have been displaced and their lands have been taken over by these terrorists.”
To an average indigene of plateau, the attack is one too many and government is not also doing enough to protect lives and properties. Most if not all the people see these unwarranted attacks as a concerted move by forces within and outside the state to kill, displace and take over their ancestral lands. It is an expansionist agenda. Coincidentally, the kid-glove-approach to dealing with the crisis aligns with the peoples’ perception. Since 2002 when the Yelwa/Shendam crisis was birthed, Plateau State knew no peace and has been in the news for wrong reason. Those in government pay lip services to the crisis and consistently engage in mere rhetorics.
While previous and the present administrations have continued to condemn every attack, it seems the barbaric killings ongoing on the plateau have defiled every reasonable solution. It does not seem human lives matter anymore on the plateau and in Nigeria. The circumstances surrounding attacks and senseless killings on the plateau has remained the same ever since. Twenty eight communities were attacked for two days and there was no intervention of government or security agencies until the deeds were done? It is unbelievable to assume that all the security agencies lacked intelligence on the planned attack. The government of plateau state and relevant security agencies as usual pander with figures of the dead and could not even account for the exact number of precious human lives lost.
The people of plateau are victims of ethnic cleansing, terrorism and pure criminality. Politics and religion are among basic factors fuelling the crisis. Other interests and intentions behind it include cattle rusting, cultural and identity differences, hegemonic interest and other pursuits known to those behind the act and most importantly land grabbing. It is clearly evident in taking over and renaming of the ancestral lands of communities already displaced by these known terrorists and invaders. Actually, the burning issues creating problems on the Plateau have been treated with levity for a long time. Until those in positions of authority and decision makers stop playing politics with human lives and confront the problems frontally, the energy invested will still result to constant motion without movement.
This was because it is all mere talks without action. Still, the adversary is so daring and unrelenting. Every opportunity available for the assailants to unleash mayhem, they grab. The governor mentioned schools in Mangu as residents of these killers for years now, others say Mahanga areas provide cover yet the government at both state and federal levels have done nothing to fish out the terrorists even when their locations are well known. In fact, a former Theatre Commander Operation Safe Heavens in an interview with Arise TV said he had made a number of submissions to the authorities on way forward and if those fanning the ember of discord desire genuine peace, they all knew what to do.
Have the governments at both the federal and state levels really defined and dimensioned the problems sufficiently and courageously? Not much has changed in the security architecture since 2015. Moreover, it appears that those in charge do not understand what the problem is or are part of it. President Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda should do something fast and deal decisively with any killer group. Killing people and worse still in their sleep is extremely wicked. The Nigerian government should show reasonable interest to end the crisis. Much more force or fire power against these assailants is required. The best honour to the dead is to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to book.
Since 2002, there was no evidence of the political will, strong determination or decisive action taking by government against murderous groups causing mayhem on the plateau. Plateau people are angry, tired and frustrated. There is a limit to their patience and endurance. They should not be left with the option of relying on self-help as a survival instinct. New strategy for peace is desirable without further delay. Politically, culturally or religiously motivated crisis with obvious political answers should not be left alone in the hands of security agencies to resolve. Communities who are victims of the heinous attacks should be actively involved in finding lasting peace. The attackers themselves should also be involved in the peace process by making known their own position, intents and grievances, if any.
That this dastardly act took place on the eve of a global religious joyous moment shows how morally bankrupt the killers are and the extent human lives have been devalued in our society. The security challenges confronting plateau has once again brought to fore the conversation around the need for state police. When the states are given direct control over the coercive powers and resources to confront security challenges under the constitution, it will be very easy to restore peace, order and deal decisively with terrorists or any destructive elements like the ones plying their destructive trade on the plateau.
Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, a media and development communication Specialist can be reached via sunnyeze02@yahoo.com and 08060901201
