A former Minister of Youth and Sports Development under late Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Solomon Dalung, has described the ongoing violence in Plateau State as nothing short of “genocide,” accusing the authorities of allowing oorganised riminal elements to take over indigenous communities in what he called a full-blown attempt at ethnic cleansing.
Dalung, who spoke during an interview on News Central, traced the origins of the conflict from political differences to ethnic and religious tensions before evolving into organized criminality.
He said the situation has now escalated into a calculated elimination and displacement of indigenous groups.
“It started from the realm of politics to ethnicity and religion from religion it went into criminality organised criminality and where we are now is is a genocidal elimination of ethnic or indigenous communities and land grabbing,” Dalung said with grave concern.
He further disclosed that more than 64 communities had been forcefully taken over, citing information from Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
“These organised criminals have taken sizable communities; according to the governor, over 64 communities have been taken over by them,” he added.
Dalung’s comments come amid increasing reports of killings, arson, kidnapping, and forced displacement of rural populations in Plateau State.
The former minister lamented that the silence and inaction of the Nigerian government and security agencies are emboldening the attackers.
Plateau State has experienced decades of cyclical violence, however, community leaders warn that the scale and precision of recent attacks indicate a coordinated effort to alter the region’s demography.
And Nigerians in brotherhood and sisterhood in Nigerian ethnic tribal indigenous nationalities not doing anything..Mostly disgraceful is the non proactive assistance in forceful intervention of Niger Delta militants.It’s unbelievable. This would have earned them accolades all over the world. Anyway never too late.Enough is enough of this unacceptable nonsense.