Plateau State, a region once renowned for its tranquility and rich cultural heritage, has become embroiled in a distressing and tragic series of violent clashes between various ethnic and religious factions. These clashes have inflicted immeasurable loss of innocent lives, mass displacements, property destruction, and an overwhelming sense of fear and insecurity among the populace.
Over the past three months alone, the death toll has soared to at least 300 individuals in multiple attacks perpetrated by armed gunmen on various Plateau communities. The assailants have not only taken lives but also set numerous homes ablaze, forcing survivors to flee, leaving several communities deserted and ravaged.
Addressing the media, representatives from the Gideon and Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, during their visit to Mangu LGA where over 18,000 displaced persons sought refuge in a primary school, described the situation as utterly heart-wrenching. The victims include children, women, orphans, widows, husbands, and widowers, some of whom are mere infants left without parents due to the violence.
“The visit is to identify with the victims and support them in a little way to cushion the effects of the tragedy and devastation of their properties by the attackers.
“We can see the vast number of IDPs; over 18000 of them here(Mangu primary school) comprising children, women, orphans, widows, husbands, widowers. You can imagine that less than two years old baby whose mother and father were killed. I was moved to tears but I have to control myself.
“The government needs to stop the impunity of people coming to kill people and walk away. It’s unacceptable. I think the government needs to sit up and say enough is enough.
The Foundation vehemently called upon the government to intensify its efforts in putting an end to these killings and to facilitate the safe return of people to their ancestral villages. They criticized the government’s apparent inaction in the face of such atrocities, emphasizing the urgent need for measures to halt the bloodshed and restore peace.
The recent wave of violence in Mangu, Plateau State, has sent shockwaves through the nation and left many grieving. The loss of approximately 130 innocent lives, the destruction of over 1,000 buildings, and the displacement of communities in 22 villages underscore the dire need to address the ongoing cycle of violence in the region.
Notably, the villages targeted by militia herders included areas within the Districts of Bwai, Panyam, Pushit, Mangu, Murish, Kombum, Fungzai, and Kubwat, among others. Tragically, the majority of the victims were women and children who fell prey to unprovoked attacks under the cover of night. Their homes, food supplies, and livelihoods were decimated.
Earlier this month, the House of Representatives urgently called upon the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to declare the ongoing killings in Plateau State a national emergency. The resolution was reached during a plenary session following a motion presented by Dachung Bagos, a representative from the Plateau State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Bagos, while moving the motion, highlighted the alarming rise in insecurity and loss of innocent lives, including within communities under his constituency. He emphasized that the attacks have been persisting in certain areas of Plateau State for several months, resulting in the complete destruction of crops and farmlands. The situation demands immediate attention and intervention to address the escalating violence and protect the lives and livelihoods of the affected communities.
The Nigerian Army launched Operation Hakorin Damisa IV, aiming to end the spate of attacks and killings in Mangu LGA and other parts of the state. The situation has reached a critical point, with over 300 fatalities reported in the past two months alone.
Critics have accused the government, including the former President Buhari, of inadequately addressing the killings in Plateau and Benue States, resulting in ongoing violence and loss of lives. The responsibility now falls on the current leadership, headed by President Tinubu, to decisively handle the situation and protect the citizens.
Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether President Tinubu will adopt a similar nonchalant approach to the killings as his predecessor.
The pressing question remains: when will our leaders move beyond mere condolences and truly take charge to address these appalling circumstances? The nation yearns for leaders who will act swiftly and effectively to put an end to the bloodshed and safeguard the lives of its people. The plight of Plateau State calls for immediate and decisive action, and it is crucial that all stakeholders collaborate to find lasting solutions to this deeply troubling issue.
The people of Plateau State deserve to live without fear, violence, and displacement. It is time for the government to step up, act decisively, and work tirelessly to bring an end to the cycle of violence that has plagued this once serene and culturally rich region.
