Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Muftwang, has sounded the alarm over what he described as a “coordinated genocide” ravaging his state, as he confirmed that no fewer than 64 communities have fallen under the control of terrorists in a wave of brutal attacks that continue to claim innocent lives and displace thousands.
In a deeply emotional and revealing interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, Governor Muftwang did not mince words, expressing grave concern over the ferocity and frequency of the killings—particularly the most recent carnage in Bokkos Local Government Area, where more than 50 people were slaughtered and entire villages reduced to rubble.
“I can tell you in all honesty that I cannot find any explanation other than genocide—genocide sponsored by terrorists,” Muftwang declared, his voice laced with anguish and urgency. “This is no longer about herder-farmer clashes. This is a carefully orchestrated campaign to wipe out entire communities.”
He questioned the silence and inaction surrounding the identity of those behind the attacks, insisting that such a deadly campaign could not be executed without powerful backers. “The question is: who are the real sponsors of this terrorism? This is what our security agencies must unravel. This level of violence is clearly not the handiwork of ordinary people.”
According to the governor, the situation has escalated beyond sporadic attacks; it has transformed into a silent occupation. Muftwang disclosed that at least 64 communities spread across Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom LGAs have been forcefully seized by armed groups, who now inhabit these lands freely—having displaced the rightful residents.
“As I speak to you, not less than 64 communities on the Plateau have been completely taken over by bandits,” he revealed. “These communities have been renamed, and people are now living on lands from which others were violently evicted.”
Plateau State, long plagued by ethno-religious and land-based conflicts, is now at a tipping point. The governor referenced the horrifying massacre of nearly 200 people during Christmas 2023 as a dark milestone in what he described as a growing humanitarian catastrophe.
With the scale of destruction and displacement worsening by the day, Governor Muftwang issued a clarion call for unity and urgency among Nigeria’s security forces. “We need collaboration, not disjointed efforts. I believe that in the coming days, security agencies will work in unison—sharing intelligence and resources—to bring this bloodshed to an end.”
The Plateau governor’s alarm is not just a cry for help—it is a desperate plea to the federal government and international community to recognize the unfolding atrocities and act before more lives are lost, more homes razed, and more communities erased from the map.
PIONEER NEWS 