Solomon Dalung, a former minister of youth and sports development under Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency, has condemned the government’s inaction regarding the persistent violence in Plateau State, particularly in the Bokkos Local Government Area, where recent attacks claimed the lives of 80 people.
Dalung, in an interview on Arise Television’s programe, The Morning Show, monitored by BusinessDay in Jos, pointed to the absence of justice as the key factor fueling the crisis, noting that multiple commissions of inquiry have been set up over the years, yet none have led to the prosecution of perpetrators.
“This is a reflection of the lack of political will to address the problem. Until justice is served based on the reports from these commissions of inquiry, which are just gathering dust in government archives, we will not see an end to this carnage”.
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Dalung emphasized that the attackers are terrorists, not mere herders, as some have suggested.
He recalled that governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau state had previously stated that the violence in Plateau is no longer about a conflict between herders and farmers, but a targeted genocide against the native people of Plateau.
Dalung echoed this sentiment, stating that the lack of political will to address the issue has allowed these terrorists to continue their reign of terror without significant intervention from the government.
One of the government’s proposed solutions to the violence was the creation of the Ministry of Livestock and a plan to restrict movement in order to stop the attacks.
However, Dalung questioned the 10-year timeline set by the government, asking why it has taken so long to address a crisis that has been ongoing for over 20 years.
He criticized the government’s slow response and raised concerns about the true motives behind the delay.
The former minister argued that the issue at hand is not simply a case of herders versus farmers, but a matter of terrorism.
He noted that these individuals operate in enclaves, much like terrorists in other parts of northern Nigeria, and seize land to set up their own forms of governance.
Dalung dismissed the claim that lack of access roads is hindering security efforts, saying that technological advancements such as drones and surveillance cameras could aid in intelligence gathering and monitoring the situation more effectively.
Dalung’s primary criticism was directed at the government’s failure to properly designate these attackers as criminals and terrorists.
“I’m glad you referred to these individuals as terrorists, because that’s exactly what they are. Some may try to label them as herders, but Governor Caleb Mutfwang has been very clear in saying that this is no longer a mere conflict between herders and farmers, it’s a genocide targeting the native people of Plateau”.
He stressed that treating these individuals as herders or farmers only perpetuates the problem. According to Dalung, the government needs to recognize these groups for what they are and take decisive action to stop them adding that until the government does this, the cycle of violence and impunity will continue, he warned.
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Dalung said the attacks have primarily targeted the agriculturally rich areas of Bokkos and Mangu, which produce key crops like Irish potatoes and maize.
The former minister suggested that the terrorists are motivated by the desire to seize control of land and resources in these areas.
He pointed out that many local herders have already lost their livestock to these criminals, which has devastated their traditional livelihood.
He urged the Nigerian government to take decisive action to regain control of the situation, saying if the government continues to fail to act, the terrorists will continue to gain ground, and the situation will remain a dangerous stalemate, with the lives of many Nigerians at risk.
