Since the commencement of the current political dispensation in 1999, each civilian administration in Plateau State has had its moment of mass burial impelled by violent attacks on innocent citizens. KOLADE ADEYEMI chronicles how the administrations of former governors Joshua Dariye, Jonah Jang and Simon Bako Lalong waded through the storm.
With the recent burial of more than 60 innocent residents of Bokkos Local Government Area and another 47 victims of violent attacks in Bassa, the question on the lips of sympathisers within and outside Plateau State is whether the state is back to the dark days of mass burials.
The era of mass burial in the state began in 2001 after the famous Jos crisis of September 7, 2001. That was the era of Senator Joshua Chibi Dariye’s administration between 1999 and 2007. The bodies of victims of the 2001 violent conflicts became so many that it was unnecessary to bury them one by one. It then became expedient to embark on the mass burial of victims.
The 2004 Yelwa-Shendam crisis that attracted an imposition of the first-ever state of emergency in Plateau State by the then Obasanjo administration was an action that followed mass killings and mass burial.
While everyone thought that the bloodshed that occurred during the Dariye administration was due to his inability to manage the communal conflicts, the killings that ensued when Jonah David Jang took over as governor made those of his predecessor pale into insignificance. Even as a retired military officer and a two-time military administrator of Gongola and Benue states, Jonah Jang sweated throughout his eight-year reign trying to stop bloodshed. The biggest mass burial on the Plateau took place under the watch of Jonah Jang with the Dogo-Na Huawa overnight killing of 2010, which saw the mass burial of about 500 victims in one grave. The burial site remains a monument of agonies and sorrow. The Dogo-Na Hauwa incident remains the biggest mass burial to date.
Despite the establishment of a special military task force in Jos after the Dogo-Na Hawa incident, the killings persisted but were restricted only to Plateau North Senatorial District, where Jang hailed from. The killings became more intense under the watch of the special military task force. It will be recalled that a Senator from Plateau North, the late Gyang Dantong, died alongside the then Majority Leader of the state’s House of Assembly, the late Dan Fulani. The top politicians were killed while taking part in the mass burial of more than 200 victims in the Riyom Local Government Area.
Fed up with the killing of his people, Jonah Jang could only heave a heavy sigh of relief when he handed over the state to Senator Lalong in 2015. Governor Lalong, as the 5th civilian governor of the state, had come with full confidence, boasting that he knew what to do to halt the bloodshed. Remarkably, there was a lull in the spate of killings within the first year of the Lalong administration, upon which he boasted of having proffered a solution to the violent conflicts. “I gave political appointments to Muslims and the killings have stopped,” Lalong boasted. But shortly after that self-advertisement, the bloodshed resumed in Plateau North, particularly Bassa, Barkin Ladi and Riyom. The inability of Lalong to effectively manage the bloodshed in the state largely accounted for the defeat of the APC in the 2023 governorship election.
With the coming of Caleb Mutfwang in 2023, the killings shifted from Plateau North to Plateau Central Senatorial District, particularly in Mangu, where the governor hails from. Mutfwang was never even allowed the benefit of his swearing in when the gunmen invaded his Mangu Local Government Area and slayed more than 40 residents. This was followed by another attack on the eve of the 2023 Christmas, with over 200 deaths reported.
The most recent was the killings in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas. The pertinent question at this juncture is when the killings will end and the consequent mass burials?
More than ever before, the security agencies appear to have initiated better measures to halt the killings under the Mutfwang administration. For instance, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered the extension of aerial patrols across rural communities in Plateau State, using the Police operational helicopter newly deployed after the recent attacks. The IGP also ordered the deployment of an entire Police Mobile Force (PMF) Unit to the State. He has also deployed additional personnel from the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) and Armoured Tanks and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to address the security challenges in the State.
The IGP, who made these known during his on-the-spot visit to the affected communities in Bokkos Local Government Area, said the measures were meant to step up surveillance through effective monitoring to check any further attacks in the state. The IGP, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Operations, B.D. Kwazhi was accompanied on the visit by the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command and other security heads to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation in the state.
During his visit, the DIG engaged in a series of activities which were all geared towards enhancing security and promoting peace in the region.
At a stakeholders meeting held at the Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) Secretariat, the executive chairman of the council, Amalau Samuel Amalau, expressed his profound gratitude to the Inspector General of Police and the entire management of the Force for the support extended to the Local Government Area since these unfortunate attacks began. He outlined the need for additional personnel and operational infrastructure to be deployed to Bokkos LGA, especially those that could be used to navigate the rocky terrain, and effectively address the security challenges faced by the predominantly farming community.
The chairman urged the residents to remain calm, cooperate with law enforcement agencies, be vigilant, and refrain from resorting to vigilante actions. He extended his condolences to the families of the deceased, injured and displaced victims.
The DIG, in his remarks, conveyed the IGP’s condolences to the victims of these attacks. He said the IGP on receiving a report of the incident, immediately released an operational helicopter and directed him to carry out intensive aerial patrol of the affected area, to complement the security operations in the state.
While reiterating the Force’s commitment to prioritising the safety and security of the entire country, he stated that the IGP has ordered the deployment of an entire Police Mobile Force (PMF) Unit to the state. He has also deployed additional personnel from the Special Intervention Squad (SIS), Armoured Tanks and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to address the security challenges in the state.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration between security agencies and the communities in the restoration of peace in the nation, he stated that the visit marked the beginning of the IGP’s concerted efforts towards strengthening security engagement with communities and addressing the vulnerabilities faced by the residents.
As part of the visit, DIG Kwazhi visited the IDP camp at Bokkos and interacted with the displaced persons. He conveyed the IGP’s condolences and assured that the police high command was doing everything within its constitutional powers to ensure that peace is restored in Bokkos LGA, and ensure that they are relocated back to their homes.
The Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, reassured all residents of Bokkos LGA and Plateau State at large that the police would do everything within its constitutional powers to ensure that the perpetrators of this inhuman act were brought to book and justice for the victims is served.
The military, on its part, appeared already fed up with the unending bloodshed in Plateau State. They may have understood where the challenges are. Gen. Oyinlola, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) and Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) said: “Let me begin by expressing my profound dissatisfaction with the state of security in parts of Plateau State, especially in Bassa, Bokkos and Mangu local government areas.
“I must be candid with you; the failure of stakeholders to effectively rein in their wards and subjects has significantly contributed to the prevailing insecurity. While I recognise and commend the efforts of some of you who have laboured to promote peace, the truth remains that many have either remained silent or turned a blind eye while the security situation in their communities has degenerated.
“Let me quickly remind all of you stakeholders that hostility is not the best way to resolve any crisis. Instead, it aggravates pain, destruction and deep-seated hatred.
Throughout the history of mankind, even the most protracted conflicts in the world have only been resolved through dialogue, compromise and reconciliation. We cannot afford to continue down the destructive path.
“Therefore, this meeting is timely to enable us to understand one another, address grievances and forge a common ground for peaceful coexistence. I therefore urge every community, every leader and other stakeholders to embrace dialogue. Let us talk to one another rather than take up arms against each other.
“I am aware that there are real grievances, some of which date back many years, while others are more recent. But no matter how genuine our grievances may be, violence is not the answer. Retaliation will only increase violence and reprisals, which could degenerate into a vicious cycle of violence.
“In the current situation in Plateau State, silence is complicity, and inaction is very dangerous. When leaders fail to lead decisively against violence, they enable it. When they fail to hold their own accountable, they embolden criminal elements.
“I must therefore call out this failure, not out of malice but out of solemn obligation to awaken your collective consciousness. The recent spate of attacks in Bokkos, Mangu and Bassa local government areas has led to loss of lives and property. The cycle of attacks and reprisals has become a self-sustaining engine fuelled by ethnic mistrust, religious animosity and historical grievances.
“But let me be clear that no grievance, no matter how deep, justifies murder. No provocation, no matter how grave, excuses arson and bloodletting. To all those responsible for these atrocities, be warned. Troops and security agencies have been issued standing directives to hunt down every criminal involved in these criminal acts.”
Gen. Oyinlola added: “Let me also make this point abundantly clear; security agencies are not deployed to take sides but to enforce peace, uphold justice and to protect every law-abiding citizen irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliation.
“Our loyalty is to the constitution and all of you as people of Nigeria. However, security is a collective responsibility, as security agencies cannot be everywhere at the same time. We would therefore depend on timely information and your cooperation. You must be willing to provide information on the activities of criminal elements hibernating in our various communities to enable security agencies to take decisive action.
“May I also use this opportunity to inform you that we are conducting offensive operations to track and neutralise criminal elements responsible for the latest attacks in Plateau State. Our troops have been deployed to flashpoints in the state, and we have also enhanced intelligence gathering efforts.
“We are also coordinating with relevant ministries, departments and agencies to ensure a coordinated response to security incidents in our Joint Operations Area. We are further reviewing our operational strategies to reflect the evolving dynamics of the security landscape.
“Nonetheless, these efforts must be matched with sincerity from all of you as critical stakeholders. I will conclude this address by reminding all of you that peace is not a favour we do for one another; it is a necessity for our collective survival.
“The future will remain a mirage if we do not act decisively today. We owe it to our children to leave behind a legacy of peace, not war. We also owe it to ourselves to rise above hatred and embrace the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood. I therefore charge all of you to leave this gathering today with a renewed sense of urgency. The time for action is now.”
Amid a likely solution to the prevailing bloodshed, the disillusioned people of Bokkos were full of gratitude to the security agencies for their efforts in curtailing the casualties. Leaders of the community, under the aegis of the Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC), said: “The people of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State have expressed delight to the federal and state governments for the prompt delivery of relief to victims of violent attacks on the community by gunmen.
“The people also applauded the intervention of the Senator representing Plateau Central Senatorial District, Senator Diket Plang, for bringing immediate relief to the people. We hereby express deep gratitude to the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Plateau State Government under Governor Caleb Mutfwang for their interventions following the recent attacks in the Bokkos Local Government Area.
“Your support has provided reassurance during these challenging times. However, we wish to emphasise the extent of the destruction caused by these heinous attacks and humbly appeal for additional assistance for the many victims left helpless and hopeless.”
The community particularly commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his swift response, which included deploying troops to address the violence and sending humanitarian aid through the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda. Their words: “We also thank the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for their military interventions.
“The follow-up actions taken by the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, and the visit by the Secretary to the State Government, Arc. Nanchang Jatau have provided much-needed relief during these trials.”
Beyond the commendation, the people were able to put up demands which they thought would help their helpless situation. They felt that though the interventions provided thus far have been beneficial, they are inadequate in addressing the extensive damage caused.
“The attacks on April 2 alone resulted in over 50 deaths, more than 18 injuries, over 4,000 displaced people camping in at least two IDP camps in Hurti, Bokkos, Gwande, etc, over 180 homes destroyed, and so on. It is worth mentioning that more than 25,000 people have been displaced by various attacks over the past two years, with many still unable to return home. The recent attacks and the repercussions will take years to overcome.
“Survivors of these attacks deserve greater support; this is their right. The government’s primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and welfare of its citizens. Failure to protect them despite advanced warnings and existing intelligence resources places responsibility for these attacks on the government.
“The victims, who have contributed to the establishment of government through their votes, deserve justice and compensation for their losses, including the deaths of breadwinners and loved ones. Equally important is the recovery of ancestral lands that have been seized and occupied by foreign elements with extremist ideologies and terrorist intentions.
“Neglecting these needs could erode public confidence in the government, potentially leading to reduced civic engagement or even unrest. We have come together at this critical time in Plateau State when the land has been marred with violence, reprisals and threats of further reprisal, with the potential of degenerating into a vicious cycle of violence.
“This stakeholders’ engagement is convened not as a mere formality but as a clarion call; a call for action, a call for accountability and most importantly, a call for the restoration of peace. We are here to find a practical and lasting solution to the senseless acts of violence witnessed in parts of Plateau State.”
The killings in Plateau State are far beyond what the state’s chief executive and state security officer can handle alone. But with the interventions by the Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there is hope for Governor Mutfwang that the bloodshed will not outlive his administration like others before him.
