Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Plateau State have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently withdraw military personnel from communities across the state, citing continued killings and the ineffectiveness of the security forces to curb the violence.
The call was made during a press conference held on Saturday in Jos, Plateau state capital, where the group, led by Chris Damcher, decried the worsening insecurity and loss of lives in Bokkos and other local government areas.
The CSOs expressed deep pain over the recent massacre of over 50 persons and the destruction of properties worth millions of naira in five communities within Bokkos Local Government Area.
They blamed the attacks on armed Fulani groups, accusing them of seeking to forcefully take over indigenous lands rich in agriculture, minerals, and water resources.
The group criticised the federal and state governments for what they described as a reactive rather than proactive approach to the recurring violence, according to BusinessDay.
“Each time there’s an attack, security agencies arrive only after the destruction is done. Arrests are made, yet no prosecution follows. It’s a clear sign that the system has failed,” the group stated.
The CSO Forum condemned what it called the government’s ceremonial handling of security matters, pointing to ineffective committees, dormant inter-religious councils, and a military presence that has done little to deter attacks.
“The country was more at peace when there were no soldiers on our streets. Now, with heavy deployment, insecurity has worsened.” the group asserted.
They warned that the attacks are not typical farmer-herder clashes but a calculated attempt to displace natives and occupy ancestral lands.
The group urged community members to unite and defend themselves, while calling on the federal government to officially designate the attackers as terrorists and treat their actions as acts of war against innocent civilians.
In a strong rebuke, the CSOs rejected suggestions for a state of emergency in Plateau, calling such proposals malicious and politically motivated.
Instead, they urged the government to focus on strengthening local security networks, rehabilitating rural roads for faster response, and implementing recommendations from past reports on internally displaced persons.
The CSOs prayed for peace in Plateau and the safe return of displaced persons ahead of the farming season.
The group reaffirmed their stand with the affected communities, declaring, “Enough of the bloodshed and bloodletting in Plateau State.”
