By Steven Kefas
In a powerful and sobering press conference held at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) on May 27, 2024, a coalition of indigenous youth associations from Plateau State raised the alarm over the alarming and unacceptable loss of ancestral lands suffered by customary landowners across the state.
Representing the Atakar, Berom, Irigwe, Mwagavwul and Ron communities, as well as the Coalition of Plateau State Indigenous Youth Bodies, the leaders painted a grim picture of well-orchestrated terror campaigns aimed at dispossessing native populations of their land and mineral resources.
“For several years, we have been crying out and lodging complaints to the appropriate authorities, but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” lamented Silas Samuel Biniyat, President of the Attakar Youth Movement. “There is a clear agenda by Fulani terrorists to unleash attacks, kill innocent civilians, and displace our people from their ancestral homes – all to deny us access to our God-given lands and territories.”
The litany of affected areas reads like a roll call of despair, with the groups alleging that over 151 hamlets and villages across Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas have either been totally annexed or are under effective occupation by militants, bandits and terrorists.
“It’s quite provoking to imagine that the foundations of churches destroyed by these terrorist elements have overnight been reconstructed as mosques, in utter disregard for the fundamental rights of the displaced people,” said Peter Bini, President of the Irigwe Youth Movement.
The youth leaders asserted that there is a curious connection between the areas worst affected by displacement and the locations richly endowed with natural and mineral resources like fertile soils, water bodies, cassiterite, and columbite. They cited the Gashish District of Barkin Ladi LGA as a prime example, where Fulani groups have largely displaced native farmers and now dominate local economic activities.
“The exploitation and domination of our people is evident at local produce markets and transport businesses in and around Gashish District,” added S.D. Dankaka, President of the Mwagavwul Youth Movement.
The groups expressed deep frustration with the Nigerian government’s feeble response so far, accusing security agents of making token arrests only to release suspects on “orders from above.” They demanded that the international community apply diplomatic pressure to compel the government to take decisive action.
“A situation where few arrests are made and hurriedly released is not only unjust but totally unacceptable, as this constitutes a grievous disservice to humanity,” stated Paul Dekete, Chairman of the Indigenous Youth Coalition.
While acknowledging the Plateau State Government’s passion for returning IDPs to their lands and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pledge to address insecurity, the youth leaders underscored that the magnitude of the crisis requires international intervention and support for Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang’s “Time is Now” administration.
“We strongly believe that the good intention of the Governor of Plateau needs to be concretized through a marshall plan for rehabilitation, reconstruction, and resettlement of victims across the affected Local Government Areas,” said D.S. Mwantiri, President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association.
In a poignant conclusion, the groups argued that the plight of the victims stems from a weak system that fails to guarantee their safety or enforce their inalienable human rights. They called on the international community to either pressure the Nigerian government into transparent action or invoke multilateral diplomatic resources to respond to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Plateau State and the Middle Belt region.
“Our people are plagued because of a weak and reluctant system that hardly guarantees their safety nor enforces their rights as human beings,” declared Christopher Luka, President of the Ron Youth Movement. “The world cannot stand idly by in the face of such injustice.”
As the press conference drew to a close, the resounding chants of “Long Live Plateau Indigenous Youth Bodies,” “Long Live Plateau State,” and “Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria” echoed through the halls, a defiant cry for justice and a call to action that can no longer be ignored.
