FG Allegedly Awarded Land to Killers of Plateau Residents, Says Middle Belt Forum President – Pogu

Dr. Bitrus Pogu, the National President of the Middle Belt Forum, discusses with IMOLEAYO OYEDEYI how both the federal government and the Benue State administration are addressing the ongoing issues of herder violence in the state and surrounding regions.

Approximately 200 individuals were allegedly slain by armed herders in the Yelewata community within Benue State not long ago. Could you provide your evaluation of how both the federal and state governments have handled these incidents?

Based on what they've said, I'm completely unimpressed. Given that this terrible act was carried out by individuals we can identify, mere discussion isn’t sufficient. Initially, the state governor minimized the death toll rather than providing an accurate number, which made it seem like fewer than 50 lives were lost. Fortunately, Mr. President performed better than his predecessor, who didn’t bother visiting Benue during similar incidents.

Nonetheless, Tinubu made a visit to the state, although I anticipated him doing and saying much more. To jest about needing some land in Benue for a ranch seems almost flippant regarding the tragic loss of life among the Benue people. This horrific event claimed over 200 Nigerian lives with brutal force. In certain more civilized countries, such an incident would prompt measures so severe that they would reverberate throughout the entire nation. Therefore, I had hoped for greater gravity from Mr. President and the government of Benue State.

However, when visiting the state, the President called for arrests and instructed the security officials to pursue those responsible for the killings. Is this not sufficient?

We've encountered numerous similar declarations in the past, and you understand how things go, considering my Nigerian background. The president ought to have stated, "I'm giving the security forces 24 hours—or perhaps even just 12—to identify and apprehend those individuals." He should make their identities known to every citizen so appropriate measures can be taken as an example for others. Instead of saying “we’re going to find” them, which leaves us wondering whom exactly. There has been plenty of talk; what Nigeria truly needs right now is concrete actions rather than mere rhetoric.

The President additionally conducted a town hall meeting with the residents of Benue and suggested forming a peace committee to tackle the issue. What further actions could he have taken?

As soon as this assault began, adding to previous incidents, the President ought to have declared, “The cycle of violence in Nigeria must stop here. From now on, our strategy against insurgencies and terrorism will shift away from relying solely on military forces. Security personnel can no longer remain static, passively awaiting terrorist attacks.” Additionally, he could have emphasized that whenever help is sought urgently and the authorities do not respond, all security officers within that region will face consequences. This measure would ensure accountability since such negligence would be public knowledge.

Upon reflection, the police stated that they confronted the bandits, but with military units nearby at the site of the assault, no one intervened to aid those under attack. For hours, people were slaughtered and burned within their own homes without assistance. This is why I suggested that the President should declare that any security personnel present during an incident who fail to rescue individuals facing terrorism can be held accountable. It was essential for this statement to be made explicitly so that from then on, whenever there is a crisis and security forces neglect their duty to safeguard citizens, they could face responsibility and blame accordingly.

Secondly, recognizing the vulnerability of individuals facing such armed and merciless criminals, the President ought to have stated that state and local law enforcement must be deployed without delay.

The Tiv traditional leader characterized the assault as an act of genocide; however, the reactions from both federal and state authorities suggest they view it more akin to a conflict between communities that could potentially be resolved through non-violent means. Where do you stand on this issue?

Nothing compares to a full-blown communal war; such conflicts do not occur in Benue or Plateau State, nor elsewhere in our nation. Instead, we see groups primarily composed of Fulani individuals wandering about with various motives, intent on killing, inflicting harm, ruining livelihoods, and seizing land that belongs to others, only to be rewarded later for these actions. This scenario played out precisely in Wase within Plateau State.

The assailants murdered numerous individuals within the Plateau community and were compensated by seizing the ancestral territories of those inhabitants. This transgression did not occur in Katsina, Zamfara, or Sokoto. Instead, they targeted the Mid-Belt region to inflict havoc and claim control over the lands where their victims resided. Such is the bitter reality of our nation known as Nigeria.

Who rewarded the killers?

Who seized control of Wase territory and transferred ownership to the Fulani? This action was taken by the Federal Government. In fact, an official event was organized by the Ministry of Livestock Development where they formally handed over this vast area belonging to the Wase community to those very Fulani responsible for massacring them. Unfortunately, this turn of events may suggest that rewarding violent acts against innocent individuals continues unchecked.

Calls have emerged urging the people of Benue to adopt self-defense strategies; however, the state governor has opposed this idea. What do you think about it?

Each person must protect themselves. Should this prove ineffective, we shall unite to safeguard our land. By then, Nigeria might resemble Somalia. Consequently, the federal government ought to take action since individuals, particularly those in the Middle Belt, feel cornered.

We stand on the verge of experiencing an impact similar to what occurred in Somalia. In such circumstances, when individuals are murdered and all forms of legal authority disintegrate completely, it signifies that governing structures have collapsed. Once this occurs, everyone might resort to taking justice into their own hands. It’s not acceptable to remain passive as day after day, different victims fall prey to killings carried out solely by specific groups, leaving others defenseless against these actions.

Look around the country, when they talk of this kind of thing in the North-West, they will also say Fulani are doing it. In the North-Central, they will mention the Fulani. In the South-West and South-South, it is the same Fulani doing it. Don’t you think it will reach a stage where everybody will turn against the Fulani? So, it will be everyone for himself. If we are not careful, it will be more like a Rwanda or Burundi kind of thing, everybody against one group. You don’t have to read history to know that’s where we are heading, and when that happens, we will have factions of everybody all over the place.

Only God can foresee how various regions and segments of this nation will come under governance and by whom. Yet, it would be tragic were this scenario to unfold. The authorities seem to take this lightly. In what corner of the globe could hundreds lose their lives through violence without more than mere discussion ensuing from our leaders? When have entire battalions been overwhelmed and crushed by unregulated entities lacking proper training and resources anywhere else but here in Nigeria? How often does one encounter daily massacres occurring across all parts of a single country? As evidence, while discussing incidents in Benue, reports indicate similar atrocities transpired in Kebbi as well.

Do you believe the crisis has political roots as suggested by certain groups?

In previous readings, we've learned that individuals were brought into the country for political purposes, and some chose to stay here permanently. Given these accounts, politicians might indeed play a part. However, we’ve arrived at a point where certain regions within this nation have become what we refer to as ungoverned territories. Local inhabitants often provide support and weapons to these groups, enabling them to launch attacks and take lives under various pretenses.

However, if it concerns politics, it will become evident sooner or later. Currently, it is intensifying under President Bola Tinubu’s tenure. It should be noted that it somewhat subsided during Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency. Additionally, it surged during Goodluck Jonathan’s time in office.

This situation will reveal whether politicians are backing and promoting such activities. In reality, most of the assaults are carried out by a recognizable cohort of individuals. Each time an attack occurs, it’s attributed to Fulani herdsmen. However, many attackers do not actually possess livestock. While some might seem to be Fulani, not all of them are cattlemen. A herdsman refers to someone responsible for tending to cattle. Nonetheless, it is clear that these actions stem from certain motives: stealing from Nigerians, seizing their ancestral territories, and transforming those lands into Fulani territory.

There have been suggestions that the Governor of Benue State appears ineffective in the battle against terrorism. To what extent is this claim accurate?

The governors of the states act as the primary security officers within their jurisdictions. While certain governmental institutions such as law enforcement agencies and armed forces aren’t controlled directly by them, they still face various difficulties similar to those encountered by other governors across the nation. This underscores our argument for implementing genuine federalism along with establishing independent state and municipal police units. Such measures would ensure that the protection of each locality begins at a grassroots level through organized efforts.

The president stated, "We should create forest rangers." However, we understand how things work in this nation; any initiative from the Federal Government could be influenced so that individuals who are attacking others might end up being appointed as forest rangers at locations where attacks occur, thereby aiding further aggression against certain groups. Instead, let's implement state police and local government police forces. Allow locals to protect their areas from invaders. Should these hostile parties realize that residents are well-armed and prepared to confront them, they would likely refrain from launching assaults.

What approach should the governor take to handle this issue?

Allow the governor to set aside political concerns and focus on addressing the needs of his community. As outlined in our Constitution, the main duty of the government is to ensure safety and well-being. Encourage him to prioritize securing protection and subsequently enhancing prosperity for the citizens. Help those who were forced from their residences return to their homelands and reside there peacefully and securely.

The governor's re-election seems assured due to public support. However, instead of taking action, he remains passive and continues engaging in political maneuvers, downplaying the tragic deaths of hundreds of his constituents. Rather than acknowledging their loss with an apology—such as admitting 'over 200 of our people have perished'—he prioritizes avoiding responsibility. It would benefit him more to demonstrate genuine concern for his community rather than focusing on shielding others within or external to his administration. Yet, should he persist along this path of exploiting current events politically, he risks suffering significant losses. The residents of Benue are well aware of how matters stand, and they will respond accordingly based on whatever criteria he chooses to measure success.

Do you mean that the governor deliberately minimized the reported number of deaths?

Based on the images you've viewed, you're aware of the chaos that ensued. Consider the individuals trapped and burned within their own rooms, not to mention those slaughtered outdoors. It’s disheartening how the governor minimizes the incident and provides a lower casualty count despite numerous NGOs, reporters, and others having visited the area. Each life from Benue holds significant value, and protecting these lives should be his top priority. Consequently, the governor must shift his focus and genuinely prioritize the well-being of Benue residents, as this is precisely why they elected him.

The military and police stated that they have initiated an international search operation targeting those responsible for the attacks in Benue. What do you make of the likelihood that this effort will yield tangible outcomes?

If law enforcement wants to locate these individuals, they can do so within fewer than 12 hours. Our police forces possess such capabilities. However, resolving issues in Benue won’t address problems across Nigeria. For instance, solving the issue in Benue might lead to similar troubles surfacing in Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Taraba, and Kebbi.

Therefore, we need to consider a comprehensive strategy.

It’s time to put an end to the violence and terror plaguing our nation. The armed forces ought to alter their strategies rather than remain stationary, anticipating assaults. Given the available technology and the known whereabouts of these criminals, those areas should be neutralized to restore tranquility within our borders.

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