Where Are The Attacks Taking Plateau To?

By Katdapba Yunana Gobum 

As a reporter, there comes a time that writing on a topic becomes monotonous, however, I am aware that the concept of feeding frenzy in journalism is not lost in the case under consideration. Until the attacks on Plateau communities come to an end, only then would I cease to make a case for the concerns of the people.

When it comes to reporting crisis on the Plateau, I can beat my chest to have reported a number of them, though they are sadly remembered.

But let it be noted; one is not being boastful, as if it is a record; for whom amongst us would feel happy to have your readers fed with details of the massacre of people, and even more continuously?

The attacks on communities of Mangu local government area as first reported can never be cheering to those who value human life; neither can any nation be any happier with the litany of harvests of deaths in the land for over two decades continuously.

When the Director General of the Plateau Peace Building Agency, Mr. Joseph Lengman issued a terse statement on April 17, 2023 of disturbing ‘ugly turn of events in Mangu local government area of Plateau State’, it was apparent that we have sadly returned to the dark days again.

The ‘disturbing reports indicate a deteriorating security situation in some parts of the locality that has led to the death of scores of precious human lives and property destroyed.’

That was not all as the ‘attack is coming on the heels of pockets of attacks recorded in some parts of Barkin Ladi in the last few days’. As usual, it is condemned ‘in totality’ as ‘this resurgence of violence’ has the ‘potential to throw the state back into those dark days where human lives and property are destroyed at the slightest provocation’.

The sad aspect of the attacks is that they came ‘at a time that the Christendom has just celebrated the holy season of Easter and the Muslim faithful are still observing the holy month of Ramadan speak volumes of the character and disposition of these unscrupulous elements  who do not mean well for the state and its citizens’.

The attacks this time, took place in the sleepy villages of Murish in Bokkos and Jwak Mai Tumbi in Mangu local government areas. They are in many respects ‘orchestrated’ attempts ‘to instill fear in the minds of the people, even as the wet season sets in’; thereby sending them away from their ancestral homelands, and by extension making most who are farmers to desert their farmlands. This is a sure way to create hunger and make them susceptible to begging for survival.

But the fact that the state was almost on its path of recovery for the old good days is enough to be worried. It is on this note that every sane man or woman desirous of living peacefully should be concerned. It is for the sake of what the state wants that more are on their knees to ward off the present danger and affliction.

In this regard, everyone has a responsibility to each other, particularly traditional institutions, community leaders, elders, youth and women to be vigilant, but more importantly ‘by prevailing on their subjects to tow the path of peace in resolving all issues of conflict through dialogue and other Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism rather than taking up arms that would only lead to a vicious circle of internecine violence’.

How better put, however, some of the times it is difficult to swallow the pains of loss and sit with the ‘enemy’ to discuss how to resolve the issues; particularly when the victims often are not the aggressors. Difficult as it comes, the sacrifices Plateau communities have undertaken to put behind them the pains of the death of family members and relations and of the destruction of property have been enormous and worthy of recommendation.

The state government agreed with the position of the Plateau Peace Building Agency that ‘the attacks are another attempt to reintroduce the era of violence and crises which have been largely contained due to government’s huge investment in security, peace building and reconciliation’.

As stated by the government: The governor as always ‘has ordered security forces to go after those perpetrating violence around villages in Mangu and Bokkos local government areas which has resulted in destruction of properties and loss of lives’; most of the time the perpetrators disappear into thin air; and the victims are left to rue their fates with condemnatory statements from all.

Is that not reason that they are commonly referred to as ‘unknown gunmen’? It is not how many times that they are reported to have been arrested, but, of the few that may have entered the hands of security agencies, how many of them have been brought to justice?

This question has been asked repeatedly without any tangible answer from those that matter. But the ‘unknown gunmen’ are not spirits; it is this development that saddens the natives wondering if their security means anything to government.

Those who know recall what the state has gone through from the numerous attacks; where precious lives of children, women and men were cut short; not to talk of property destroyed and lands grabbed from ancestral owners. Like Nigerians would say, ‘this life no balance at all’, meaning life does not favour all equally. But the essence of the cry is to demand for what is lacking in the land; justice being the meat of the oppressed.

Today, those whose lands were taken over cannot access their ancestral homes, as they are scattered in various homes and public institutions away from what they used to call home. We are yet to be told what should be done by government and other agencies to resettle them. But whatever is worth doing, justice is what is demanded in the land, which everyone should access.

No doubt, efforts have been made in various ways to remedy the situation; however, tried as the government has done over the years, the attacks have remained unabated with dire consequences in their trail. You and I are aware of the roles of the Plateau Peace Building Agency and of the government in dialogue sessions between Fulani and communities in Bokkos, Riyom, Bassa, Barkin Ladi,Mangu, Jos East, North and South.

There were other inter-governmental interventions; and if they did not result into concrete realization of the thoughts of government and of the people, it is not because there was no push; rather, the Nigerian state may not have been disposed to the needs of the people of the communities. If not, pray, say what could be wrong to have reclaimed same, persecute those who have occupied those lands and create an environment that could be conducive to all.

Recall that sometime in May 2020, the sleepy village of Kulben in Kombun of Mangu local government area was attacked and a number of people were killed. A few days after that attack, it was the turn of Kwatas in Bokkos with several other villages leading to Murish and Marish, Kantoma and Maikatako of both Mangu and Bokkos LGAs.

Other areas which have tasted the venom of the attacks include Kulyas and Folo in Bokkos. But the midnight attacks at Wereng, Bachi, Tapo village of Heipang district in Riyom and Barkin Ladi on April 23, 2023 were also reprehensible as was that of Farin Lamba, Turu mining site in Jos South on April 25, 2023.

This incident led youth, women and children to have vented their frustration on road users travelling to different parts of the country the following day (and that we have also condemned), a situation the state is frequently but wrongly accused of rejecting visitors. Those whose lives were snuffed out include, Ishaye Tana, Paul Adamu, Bitrus Mancha, Davou Boyi, Joseph John and Timothy Peter.

The harvests of deaths in the five local government areas in the past have been disturbing, as it took place a couple of days ago in the same local governments mentioned above. Has anyone observed to ask, why is it that each time it takes place, the attackers target the natives during rainy season? Could it be deliberate or that it is mere happenstance, so as to stop them from producing food?

Could there be something the attackers know that we are not aware about the numerous communities which have come under attack? Are the attackers living in the communities or have they been hired to destabilize the state? We need to know if the attacks have taken place to settle certain scores or that they are out on a mission to make life difficult for the people of the communities?

There are many questions that must be asked. They may have been some of the questions the Plateau Peace Building Agency, which has done a lot of advocacy work in all communities that have been attacked and even much more to ensure that peace returns to the state have also asked.

A lot of other people have asked: Have the security agencies failed to contain the upsurge? Have the communities just sat back and done nothing to encourage the violence to become a recurring decimal in the state? What has the state not done right to put an end to this systematic annihilation of Plateau people over the years?

There are still concerns that the nationalities in the state are not united in dealing with the crises. Sadly, many are of the view that the people of the state ‘abandon’ attacked communities any time it takes place in the state. They think it is the business of those communities where the attacks take place to ‘deal with their problems alone’.

The time has come, and it must be emphasized that the state has long lost the Plateau spirit of togetherness. Every nationality appears to be on its own concerning several things that ordinarily should have brought them together for peace and development. 

Nations don’t develop in the manner Plateau people are going about it. At the way and point the state is divided as Nigeria, it is high time we got leaders that can draw everyone together for its good.

The state is ‘blessed’ with abundant sectional but tribal leaders willing to be connected only to where they belong. Only their people matter to them, as such, there is no voice that the state can rally round to speak and direct the people. If it has such, they will always be at the forefront insisting the best be given to all communities of the state.

What took place between 2019 and 2022 in Kanam, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu, Bassa, Jos North, Jos South and Jos East can only be imagined. If attacks take place in any community in these local government areas, many turn blind eyes to it, and expect only the communities to worry about ‘their problem’. The resurgence should teach the state to create a rallying point, where all concerns can be channeled to for solutions.

In the estimation of the outside world, Plateau people are a difficult set. Those who have gone through same nature of unprovoked attacks know how it feels. But as we continue to peruse through condemnatory releases, government has a huge responsibility to the people. This may not be lost; which is why the land needs total cleansing.

It is the hope of the people that in the incoming dispensation, God willing, Plateau State should have a point for which its citizens can be brought together to realize its strength; which, for long has been exploited. Nothing can be better for the state than to stay and fight together for the cause of justice for its people.