Plateau, Benue govs must unite to defeat rampaging terrorists – MBF

The Middle Belt Forum has called on the governors of Plateau and Benue states to unite and develop strategies to defend their people against rampaging terrorists.

This is even as a former Military Governor of Plateau State, Rear Admiral Bitrus Atukum (retd.) has criticised the federal government’s approach to addressing insecurity in the state, saying they are fighting it with “kid-cloves”.

Speaking with the PUNCH in Jos on Sunday, the National President of the forum, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, noted that the insurgency had gone beyond a tolerable level, with daily attacks occurring in the two states.

Pogu stressed that the governors from the two most affected states of Benue and Plateau need to sit up and plan strategies for the defense of their people, citing military strategies that suggest the best defense is often a strong offense.

He highlighted the complexity of the conflict, noting that it has evolved beyond a simple farmer-herder crisis, with terrorists employing sophisticated tactics.

“Before,they used to deceive people that it was farmer herders crisis. Nigerians have been intimidated to the extent that if you are attacked by a herder and you fight back, you will be jailed or killed like the judgement that took place in Adamawa as confirmed by the Supreme Court. So, farmer, peasants and other Nigerians are at the receiving end in whatever case,” Pogu stated.

Citing the Director-General of the DSS, the MBF president emphasised that the first line of defense is the community, advising people to wake up and defend themselves against attacks.

He urged the people to take action, noting that while Christianity preaches peace, it does not advocate for passivity in the face of violence.

He emphasised the need for communities to be proactive in defending themselves, using available means to protect their lives and property.

He said, “If a group is going to act, nobody will tell you what they will do but we all know that the insurgency has gone beyond tolerable level. During former president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, people were killed in their hundreds in their attacks and If it is over, these attacks are still on especially in Plateau and Benue states. There are attacks in other areas but these are the two that have come out so glaringly because the attacks are occurring on daily basis and it is an unfortunate development. And the governors of these states need to sit up and plan strategies for the defence of their people. The best defence is attack. That is what military strategies tell us. We also have what they call asymmetric warfare.’’

The MBF president added, “So called hunters leave the far north and travel even to the south under the guise of hunting and the unfortunate mob action has taken these things to another level .I want to tell you that as Middle Belt Forum,the organization is looking at the situation passionately and we will advise our governors to do the needful. Just going by what the Director General of the DSS said some weeks ago and has repeated it,that the first line of defence is the community. So, we will advise our people to wake up. You don’t just sit down and then somebody will come and meet you in the night and them massacre you like chicken. In the past, some arrows are even more potent than the gun of the enemy. So, there are so many things one can do under the circumstance but not doing anything is not an option.”

On his part, Atukum, who was a military Governor of Plateau State between 1984 and 1985 expressed frustration over the government’s response to the crisis.

He questioned why the military hasn’t been deployed to flush out attackers from their hideouts in hills and mountains.

He noted that attackers are using sophisticated arms, which suggests they may have external support or sources.

Atukum said the attacks are aimed at dispossessing locals of their ancestral lands and keeping them in poverty.

He advocated for labeling the attackers as terrorists and taking decisive action against them.

He also expressed supports for the establishment of state police, but emphasised that officers should be recruited from within the community.

He equally encouraged communities to defend themselves and cooperate with the government to address the insecurity bedeviling the state

“What is difficult in ordering the army to go and fish them out from there? These people would come down from the hills, commit havoc and disappear again. And that is where they hide their weapons. So, I believe that in addition to what the security agents are doing, they can do more. But in doing more, they should look at the legislation that should have been in place.

“These people who are killing human beings, they should be labelled as terrorists and they are actually terrorists. But we have been shying away from that. Instead, other people who are committing less offences are charged with this kind of offence.

“I think the number one action to be taken is to declare these people as terrorists and to come out clearly in saying who these terrorists are. Not just labelling them as unknown gunmen because they are known now. Enough is enough.”