Plateau Residents Still in Search of Respite

After over 15 years of crisis in Plateau State and with about 800 people killed in less than one year, the security agencies seem not to have any solution to end the senseless killings, writes Seriki Adinoyi

For the people of Plateau State, killings have become a recurrent tragedy that have refused to go away.

It has defied all military and political solutions such that one can only wonder if the crisis will ever end.

Last week was another horrific one as no fewer than 15 persons, including a 200-level student of the state university in Bokkos were killed in night attacks. The killing of the student had led to protests by students and women in the town, resulting in the disruption of ongoing examinations in the institution.

Confirming the death of the student in a statement, the Registrar of the university, Mr. Yakubu Ayube, said: “The Plateau State University community woke up to the sad news of another heartless attack on Chikam, a community close to the university. The sad event led to the loss of a 200-level Computer Science student of the university residing in Chikam, Mr. Dading James Jordan. 

“This is coming despite the relentless efforts by the Plateau State government, security agencies, the management of the university, and other stakeholders to improve the security situation on our campus and the surrounding communities. Unfortunately, the enemies of the university and the state brought this dastardly attack, leading to the loss of our dear student.” 

The Transition Committee Chairman of Mangu Local Government Area, Mr. Marcus Artu, who also confirmed the incident said: “Yes, it is true that our people have just been attacked again and killed for no reason. It happened last night. As I talk to you, I’m in the affected community in Pushit. Local hunters and members of the vigilante group are still combing the bushes to recover the remains of victims.”

The previous week, the same Bokkos and Mangu LGAs were attacked and at least 10 persons killed.

Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard. Mr. Farmasum Fuddang, who confirmed the incident in a statement said: “Despite the presence of security forces, including the Department of State Services ((DSS), Army, and police, the perpetrators were allowed to carry out their heinous crime with impunity.”

In the statement, Fuddang said: “Under the cover of darkness, more than 50 armed terrorists descended upon the villages of Mandung-Mushu and Kopnanle, targeting innocent, unarmed, and peaceful residents as they slept. The assailants set fire to homes and a place of worship, mercilessly gunning down fleeing civilians while nearby soldiers failed to intervene effectively.

“This brazen attack, which predominantly targeted children, appears to be part of a calculated effort to instill fear and perpetrate further displacement within our communities. We condemn this act of terror, which we believe is aligned with a broader agenda to impose sharia law and seize control of our lands.

“Just hours before this tragedy unfolded, BCDC Vanguard submitted a petition to the Department of State Services (DSS), challenging a leaked memo that falsely accused our people of planning violence against Fulani residents. We unequivocally stated that the intelligence behind the memo was fabricated and defamatory.”

Aside major attacks and killings, there are pockets of attacks across the state, bringing the casualty figure conservatively to about 800 in less than one year of the Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration.

The attacks seem to be of two kinds, and the military needs to understand this; in the Southern part of Plateau, the attacks and killings are majorly by bandits who will ride on motorbikes to the communities in broad daylight and kill the people and abduct others. But in the Northern and Central zones, the attacks are largely by Fulani militias who swoop on the villages under the cover of the night and kill the people.

Irrespective of the group and the pattern of attacks, the military has stayed long enough to have understudied the attackers and know how to tackle them. But this is not the case.

The military Special Task Force (STF) in Plateau was established in 2008. One would have thought that by now they should have understood the terrain of the area and the pattern of attacks in the state. But unfortunately, they would always get to the scene of attacks after the assailants had disappeared. That is beginning to call the integrity and sincerity of the military into question.

Months ago, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja personally visited the state to launch Operation Hakori Damisa IV, which he said was to finally end the crisis. Hakorin Damisa in Hausa language is translated to mean Leopard’s teeth.

Speaking while addressing the troops at the Mangu mini stadium, General Lagbaja urged the soldiers to do everything possible to stamp out the crises in the area, reassuring them that every resource needed to succeed in the operation, both men and material, would be made available to them.

He warned that they were not in Mangu to play chess games, thereby reiterating that the killings in Mangu must end forthwith.

He said: “You’re not here for a chess game but for a serious business. We will make sure that we address all the challenges you may encounter and for you to make sure that the crises do not resurge.”

“I must begin by thanking you for what you have been doing to bring peace and stability to Mangu and Plateau State. As your Chief of Army Staff, I have encapsulated my command philosophy which is to have a Nigerian Army that is well-trained, equipped, and highly motivated toward achieving our constitutional responsibility in a joint environment.

“What we have brought here is the tip of the iceberg, we will give you the best to work with, we will take care of the communication, the motorcycles, and all your administrative issues but please note that you must work effectively, we must see the results. This violence must be stamped out completely. I wish you the best.”

However, over six months after, the killings have continued unabated despite all the assurance and reassurance.

While many have suggested that the military be withdrawn, and a non-kinetic approach initiated with the assailants, others have insisted that the solution to the killings lies with the establishment of the state police, which they believe.

 Special Adviser to the state Governor on Security and Coordinator, Operation Rainbow, Brigadier General Gakji Shipi (rtd) said that a non-kinetic approach to the insecurity challenge facing the state has started yielding results.  

Shipi, who commended security agencies, the vigilante and hunter groups in Wase Local Government Area of the state for their efforts in recent times towards arresting the spate of banditry and other security challenges, added that so far seven AK 47 weapons have already been turned in to operatives of Operation Rainbow.

Governor Mutfwang, while reacting to the new wave of killings, charged security forces to redouble their efforts against criminal elements, describing the development as unfortunate and unacceptable, especially at a time when the government is diligently working to restore peace and security; and to facilitate the return of displaced persons to their homes.

He warned perpetrators of these dastardly acts to desist forthwith as the government is determined to fish them out to face justice.

While appreciating the intervention of security agencies in the protection of lives and property, the governor urged them to redouble their efforts in discharging their constitutional responsibility of protecting innocent communities.

Mufwang called on community stakeholders across the state to activate dispute resolution mechanisms in tackling issues of disagreement and report without delay, early warning signs to constituted authorities for prompt intervention.

He urged vigilance and fostering of inter-community relations by residents, particularly now that the rainy season is gearing up to ensure safer and successful farming periods.