Genocide in Plateau: Calls Mount for State of Emergency as Death Toll Soars Past 100

Cleric Demands Full Military Offensive as Plateau Massacres Spark National Outcry

For two weeks, Plateau State in Nigeria's North Central region has been rocked by relentless bloodshed, casting a grim shadow over its communities and reigniting national anxiety over the country’s worsening security crisis. The most recent wave of violence, which struck the Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas, saw over 100 residents brutally murdered by heavily armed attackers believed to be organized terror groups operating under the guise of herders.

This tragic episode marks the deadliest assault on the state since the 2023 Christmas Eve carnage, when approximately 150 people were slaughtered in Bokkos. The latest attacks have not only left behind a trail of bodies and destruction but have also provoked fiery reactions from religious leaders, state officials, and citizens grappling with grief and fear.

One of the most vocal figures responding to the tragedy is Plateau-based Christian cleric, Isa El-buba, who appeared on Channels Television’s Inside Sources program. He didn’t mince words, describing the massacre as a “declared war” against the people of Plateau and calling for an aggressive military counter-offensive.

“Let’s be clear,” El-buba stated. “This is genocide. It’s not isolated; it’s a pattern. It’s systematic. These attackers come in, kill residents, displace entire communities, destroy their homes, and then take over the land. They are not just nomadic herders; these are terrorists.”

According to El-buba, over 60 communities have been affected in the recent onslaught, with survivors forcibly removed from their homes, and attackers moving in to occupy the now-abandoned lands. He recounted similar events from years past, including the infamous Dogo Nahawa massacre where more than 500 people were reportedly killed. “We pulled corpses out of wells. We’ve seen this before. It’s repeating itself,” he lamented.

The cleric, known for his activism and strong stance against terrorism, called on the federal government to drop political caution and address the situation with the urgency it deserves. “When people come to wipe out your communities, you don’t negotiate. You retaliate. You protect your people. You push back.”

He argued that the terrorists are not faceless, and their identities are known to local authorities and residents. “They speak Fulani. They are not Kanuri, Igbo, or Yoruba. If we want to solve this problem, we need to start by facing that fact and stop burying our heads in the sand.”

El-buba’s frustration extends to the presidency. Though President Bola Tinubu issued a statement acknowledging the crisis and reportedly offered advice to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the cleric insists that mere words are no longer sufficient.

“The president is the Commander-in-Chief. He has the constitutional authority. He should have come here already. Visited the victims. Shown leadership. Declared a state of emergency on security in Plateau, just like he did in Rivers State — where, mind you, not a single life was lost before action was taken,” El-buba said.

His comments echoed growing sentiments that the federal government is slow to respond decisively to killings in the Middle Belt, in contrast to how other regions are handled. “If Tinubu orders the military to reclaim those 60 communities in 24 hours, it can be done. The army has the capacity,” he emphasized.

El-buba also urged that local communities be allowed to defend themselves with official support. “These people know their terrain. Arm and back them up. Partner with them. The situation would be different if they were empowered to fight back.”

Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who has labeled the atrocities as acts of genocide, has similarly called for stronger federal intervention. But under Nigeria’s current federal structure, state governors have limited authority over military deployment, often relying on directives from Abuja.

As the death toll rises and more families are displaced, the call for action grows louder. Analysts say the Plateau killings highlight a broader failure in Nigeria’s security architecture — one where rural communities remain extremely vulnerable to violent non-state actors.

“What message are we sending to our people when terrorists can freely kill, destroy, and settle on the very land they ravaged — without any consequence?” El-buba asked in closing. “Enough is enough. If America won’t allow terrorists to take an inch of their land, neither should Nigeria.”

For now, the hills and valleys of Plateau remain under siege, but so too does the unity and conscience of a nation that once prided itself on its diversity. Whether the leadership in Abuja will take bolder steps in response remains to be seen — but for survivors in Plateau, the wait may already be too long.