11th January,2024
REJOINDER TO A TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE ON THE 7TH JANUARY, 2024 BY COALITION OF FULANI GROUPS OVER A TACTICAL APPROACH OF ETHNIC CLEANSING OF FULANI HERDERS ON THE PLATEAU, HELD AT SHARNA PALACE
The attention of the Berom Youths Moulder-Association (BYM) and the Forum of Bokkos Development Association and the Mwagavwul Youths Movement has been drawn to a press release credited to the Coalition of Fulani Groups in Plateau State in which a wide range of claims and allegations were made against the people of Barkin Ladi Bokkos and Mangu LGAs as well as the Government of Plateau State.
Ordinarily, this Press Release would have passed without a single comment from us, except that the unsuspecting public and indeed, the International Community would have been mislead into believing that the barbaric and dastardly massacre of Christmas-Eve meted out on the people of Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu LGAs are justified on the spurious grounds adduced by the so-call Coalition. This is because, the concocted, illogical and fictitious Press Release issued on the 7th day of January was just an attempt to cover, confuse, misdirect and downplay the heinous crimes committed by their bandits, and therefore, there was no sincere place for their pretentious condolences which actually amount to a hidden sense of mockery and hypocrisy as they spoke from both sides of the mouth.
By the misleading account of the so-call Coalition, how can this be true that a total number of 8 Districts have suddenly risen against the Fulani or their purported number of cattle herds without any reason? They should be honest enough to tell the world why this could even be the case. Could it be that the terrorist activities and banditry that has come to be associated with the majority of the Fulani, is indeed, their push-factor? To the best of our knowledge, Fulani herders have been hosted by our communities for decades, but have now, in our view, counted themselves unworthy of the hospitality and accommodation of the native peoples who are largely sedentary peasant farmers.
From a wide range of experiences and parallels in other States and Regions of Nigeria that Fulani militants unleash terror on weak and harmless villages, annexed their lands and denied them access in those territories. In Plateau, there are over 102 Hamlets and villages that have been completely sacked and are being occupied by the Fulani. In addition, a peace loving and very kind Paramount Ruler of Bokkos LGA, HRH Da Lazarus Agai was gruesomely killed in cold-blood on his farm while a District Head and Village Head were both killed in similar circumstances. Sadly today, over 200 of their subjects have also been massacred by the same bandits and terrorist elements whom the Fulani Coalition is advocating for their protection, and also be allowed to continue terrorizing the entire place. It’s a notorious fact that Fulani militants have been launching attacks and raiding Hamlets and Villages, committing all sorts of human rights abuses with the hope of displacing the natives, grabbing their lands and taking over the economic activities of those areas. So, it is very ironical for the victims of FULANI aggression and agenda to be portrayed as the aggressors in their own traditional homesteads and farmlands? This is, of course, a “PERFECT” work of their cheap propaganda, which is now common knowledge all over Nigeria
It’s mind-blowing and, indeed, mischievous to brandish statistics with little or no substantiation or evidence. It should, however, be understood that the aim of their Press Release was to fuel their propaganda machine, and to probably diffuse attention from the victims of their terror in Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu LGAs. Knowing the killer Fulani herdsmen for who they are, who will imagine that over 350 Fulani are killed, and thousands of their cattle rustled with over 115 in one day all rustled or killed, and unbelievably wait until January 7th for a so-call Coalition to make a Press Release on their behalf. Who on Earth will ever believe this? Is this not a diversionary tactics from the alarming Christmas-Eve killings and plunder that claimed 257 aside the over 100 injured,talk less of over 19,000 displaced and valuables worth Millions of Naira destroyed?
It’s undisputed that the Fulani lack customary rights and authority over lands and territories in all our villages and Communities except those acquired through purchase, gifts and goodwill. Little wonder, therefore, that Fulani militants have chosen terror as a means of conquest land acquisitions in this 21st Century, where constitutionalism, civilization and civility is the hallmark of modern society.
Furthermore, we are abundantly aware that Government at all levels has been concerned and making deliberate efforts to bring relief and succour to victims of terror attacks and not to support aggressors, militants and bandits or their collaborators. Therefore, the ploy of the so-call Coalition trying to paint or evenout humanitarian situation is, indeed, misleading and very shameless. To make things worse, the fictitious and propagandist statistics make the whole claims and allegations laughable and ridiculous.
For the avoidance of doubt, here is what is established, and can be verified by all and sundry about the Christmas-Eve massacre that occurred in 39 villages of Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu LGAs:
a) Barkin Ladi: 19 people killed, 6 injured, 2851 displaced aside homes and other valuables destroyed in 3 villages attacked
b). Bokkos: 187 killed, over 100 injured, over 15, 231 displaced from 31 villages raided.
c). Mangu: 52 killed, over 1900 displaced from 4 villages completely overran.
Our singular prayer is for Government to halt Fulani militants from raiding our Hamlets and Villages, killing our people and displacing as well as disrupting our livelihoods. Their sponsors and networks within and outside Nigeria should be bursted while the perpetrators and local accomplices be brought to justice.
In conclusion, permit us at this juncture to unequivocally state that, our people are at the receiving end of Fulani terror orchestrated and unleashed through their bandits, local and International compradors. The will of the Nigerian State and Government is, indeed, on trial as to whether these terrorists would go on unchecked or that Security agents will rise to the occasion to guarantee the safety of lives and property of citizens in this country.
We call on our people to remain very vigilant and ready to defend themselves if they have to under the circumstance we have found ourselves.
By:
- Barr Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri,
President of Berom Youths Moulder-Association - Mr. Philip S Julson,
Chairman Forum of Community Development Association Chairmen, Bokkos LGA - Dawap Sunday Dankaka,
President Mwagavwul Youth Movement
