Plateau Killings Genocidal, Sponsored — Gov Muftwang

A fresh wave of coordinated attacks has once again plunged Plateau State into mourning, as over 50 people were brutally killed in several communities in Bokkos Local Government Area. The latest violence has left hundreds displaced, properties torched, and entire villages razed, compounding an already dire humanitarian crisis in the region.

Eyewitnesses and local leaders described the attackers as heavily armed and highly organized, sweeping through communities under the cover of darkness and leaving devastation in their wake. Survivors recounted harrowing tales of family members being slaughtered, homes reduced to ashes, and people fleeing into the bush for safety. The scale of the carnage and level of sophistication have raised questions about the true identity and backing of the assailants.

Governor Muftwang: “This is Genocide, Not Communal Clash”

Governor Caleb Muftwang, visibly angered by the ongoing bloodshed, has labeled the killings as nothing short of genocide. Speaking on Politics Today, a political talk show on Channels Television, the governor stated unequivocally that the attacks were sponsored and aimed at ethnic and religious cleansing of certain communities in Plateau State.

“I can tell you in all honesty that I cannot find any explanation other than genocide sponsored by terrorists,” Muftwang declared. “The question is, who are the persons behind the organisers of this terrorism? This is what the security agencies must help us to unravel.” The governor insisted that the narrative of communal clashes or resource conflict no longer holds water in the face of the systematic, repeated, and large-scale nature of the attacks.

Governor Muftwang urged security agencies to step up intelligence gathering and coordination, stressing the need for unified efforts and decisive action to bring the perpetrators and their sponsors to justice. “This is being sponsored from somewhere, and I am sure that in the coming days, the security agencies will work together – not at cross purposes but in unison – to bring out the requisite intelligence,” he emphasized.

Communities Occupied, Renamed by Bandits

A particularly disturbing revelation by the governor was the forceful occupation and renaming of dozens of communities by bandits. According to him, over 64 communities in the Plateau state have been captured by armed groups, primarily in the Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom local government areas.

“These areas have not just been attacked; they have been taken over. People have been displaced, and their lands are now being occupied by those who pushed them out,” Muftwang said. He lamented that the impunity with which these criminals operate indicates a long-term agenda of colonization and ethnic cleansing.

This trend, he noted, signals a dangerous shift from sporadic violence to full-scale territorial conquest, adding a worrying layer to an already complex security crisis. The communities, some of which have been renamed, are now reportedly under the control of the attackers, who live freely in the homes of displaced villagers.

A History of Violence: Plateau’s Long Road of Bloodshed

The recent attacks are part of a troubling pattern of violence that has plagued Plateau State for years. In December 2023, more than 200 people were massacred during Christmas celebrations in predominantly Christian communities. In May 2023, the town of Wase suffered another tragedy as around 40 lives were lost and entire households destroyed in similar fashion.

Experts have long struggled to explain the multifaceted nature of the Plateau conflict, often attributing it to farmer-herder clashes, ethnic rivalry, and land disputes. However, the increasing frequency, sophistication, and targeting of specific populations suggest a broader, more insidious agenda. Governor Muftwang echoed this sentiment, asserting that the current security situation transcends local disputes and has taken the form of organized terrorism.

He warned that without urgent and sustained intervention, Plateau State could become the epicenter of a nationwide crisis, as terrorist groups expand their reach under the guise of banditry and communal strife.

Federal Response: NSA Visits Plateau, Vows End to Killings

In a bid to contain the escalating violence, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu visited the affected communities earlier this week. He condemned the attacks and pledged the federal government’s commitment to ending the killings and restoring peace in Plateau State.

Ribadu’s visit, though welcomed by the state government, has raised expectations for tangible results. Residents and stakeholders are demanding more than promises — they want swift arrests, disarmament of militant groups, and the return of displaced persons to their ancestral homes.

With the spotlight now firmly on Plateau State, the question remains whether the federal government will match words with action. For now, the people of Bokkos and surrounding communities continue to live in fear, their lives shattered and their future uncertain — casualties of what Governor Muftwang chillingly describes as a “sponsored genocide.”