In the wake of fresh violence in Plateau and Benue states, prominent leaders from southern and Middle Belt socio-political groups have renewed calls for the creation of state police to combat escalating insecurity.
Gathering under the banner of the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum, the leaders urged Nigerians to defend their lives and communities in the face of what they described as unchecked terrorism.
The call was made in a joint statement released on Friday by Oba Oladipo Olaitan (Afenifere), Dr Bitrus Pogu (Middle Belt Forum), Senator John Azuta-Mbata (Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide), and Ambassador Godknows Igali (PANDEF).
“The planned, coordinated and unrelenting genocidal massacre by suspected Fulani militias in various communities across Nigeria, particularly Plateau and Benue states, have pushed all patriotic and well-meaning Nigerians beyond the threshold of mourning for decisive action by people of different nationalities and groups,” the statement read.
The leaders were reacting specifically to the recent killing of at least 50 Irigwe people in Zike and Kakpa villages in Kwall District, Bassa LGA of Plateau State, which followed another attack days earlier that claimed over 80 lives in Bokkos LGA.
“The latest cold-blooded murder of not less than 50 innocent citizens of Irigwe ethnicity in Zike and Kakpa villages in Kwall District, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State last Sunday following similar killings of over 80 innocent lives in Bokkos Local Government Area few days earlier now leave the people with no choice than to take their destinies in their own hands severally and jointly,” the statement declared.
According to the leaders, these violent acts are often committed with impunity, while the security forces appear to be absent or unresponsive.
“The only crime of our people is being Nigerians on their ancestral land and its rich resources, where they live peacefully. In every community attacked, the Fulani militias not only destroy, but also settle on the lands often without resistance from the security forces deployed to protect citizens.”
They criticized the Federal Government’s handling of the crisis, accusing it of enabling what they termed “modern-day territorial conquests.”
“All the Federal Government does is to condone these modern-day territorial conquests while the land owners are packed in camps of Internally Displaced Persons as rescued slaves with no hopes of returning home.”
The forum lamented the continued rejection of key proposals such as state policing, restructuring, and true federalism, which they argue would empower communities to protect themselves.
“It is undeniable that the Nigerian state has surrendered its sovereignty and territory to the wanton violation by an ethnic nationality which members are acclaimed to have no respect for the territorial boundary and integrity of modern nation states,” the statement continued.
They also pointed to the overstretched nature of the country’s security agencies.
“The Nigerian security forces once respected even in international peace-keeping and enforcement operations have been over-stretched by multiple engagements in several fronts across the country.”
“All proposals and resolutions by well-meaning Nigerians which have even enjoyed national consensus for security of lives and property, including end to open grazing, establishment of state police, restructuring and true federalism have been rejected by the Federal Government,” they added.
