•Tinubu
As suspected Fulani herdsmen militias continue to attack villages in Plateau and Benue states, killing over 100 people and destroying houses and other property, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has reiterated that it believes the government and the security agencies are complicit in the wave of vicious attacks and killings going on in the Middle Belt parts of the country.
MBF President, Dr Pogu Bitrus said the body strongly believes that the North is behind the attacks, reports Saturday Sun.
He also urged “the Caliphate to own up” to the attacks and warned that there is a limit to what the Middle Belt and other parts of Nigeria would endure.
No fewer than 150 persons were killed and several houses and other property razed across 17 villages in Bokkos and two other districts of Plateau State on Christmas Eve of 2023.
The latest attack on January 24, in Kwahaslalek village in the state, which claimed 30 lives and several houses and other property, including food items, came one day after Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the Mangu area of the state.
Bitrus, in a chat with our correspondent, said the latest attack at a time there was a curfew in place has confirmed that the government and security agencies are complicit in the attacks.
He said: “We said after the Christmas Eve massacre and we didn’t mince words that the MBF believes that all the attacks on the Middle Belt parts of the country are carried out by the North, and the security forces are complicit in it with the government. The caliphate should come clean on the issue.
“The unrelenting massacre of our people in the Middle-Belt states, particularly on the Plateau, has shown without any vestige of pessimism that the government and security forces are complicit in the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous ethnic nationalities who are not part of the Sokoto Caliphate.
“The security agencies alongside government are complicit in the attacks because they allow people to be attacked unprovoked, massacred and driven to IDP camps before the security will come, and they will change the narrative. Also, before the communities are attacked, they inform the people that they will be attacked. The conspiracy in Nigeria is deep and unfortunate. I think with the coming of this government, the attacks have intensified and become more vicious. Kidnappings are also becoming more rampant.
“The hideout from which these insurgents/terrorists launch their attacks on the states of Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Southern Kaduna has been known to government and security forces for decades, yet they have deliberately fortified this evil theatre from any destruction, thus providing a safe haven for these terrorists to smuggle arms, train their mercenaries and unleash unimaginable terror on innocent citizens without any provocation whatsoever.”
He warned those behind the killings in the Middle Belt and other parts of the country to desist from such, insisting that nobody has monopoly of violence.
He further said: “Our brothers in the North need to halt these things. If they think they can override Nigeria by attacking communities, they better think again because very soon, various communities will respond and they will be the losers in the long ride. A word is enough for the wise. “If they think after these attacks they will go and establish another Miyetti Allah Security Network that was attended by security agencies – we all saw the video – then Nigeria is at the precipice unless they do the right thing. It is unfortunate that Nigeria is in this kind of situation.”
On how to halt the killings and other acts of insecurity, Bitrus charged President Bola Tinubu to rise to the challenge and provide the leadership needed to halt the killings.
“The government should look into the various reports of people behind these killings. The security agencies have compiled the names of those behind these killings. They should be arrested and dealt with decisively. President Tinubu must rise up and perform his responsibility of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians and providing for their welfare.
“Section 14(b) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stipulates that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” Bitrus said.
