The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has called on the governors of Plateau and Benue states to set aside differences and unite in their efforts to combat the increasing wave of terrorist attacks that have plagued the region. This call comes at a time when security in the two states continues to deteriorate, with the number of violent incidents reaching alarming levels.
Dr. Bitrus Pogu, the National President of the MBF, expressed grave concern over the escalating security situation in both Plateau and Benue. In an exclusive interview with *The PUNCH* on Sunday in Jos, he criticized the federal government’s approach to addressing the rising violence, describing their actions as too lenient and ineffective. Pogu emphasized that the conflict, which had initially been dismissed as a “farmer-herder” crisis, has now evolved into a more complex insurgency, with well-organized and armed groups carrying out sophisticated attacks on communities in both states.
Pogu called on the governors of Plateau and Benue to stop playing the blame game and instead come together to devise concrete plans to defend their citizens from these attacks. According to Pogu, the threat is no longer manageable, and the people in the two states need protection from well-coordinated groups that are terrorizing villages and towns across the region. He noted that while military action is necessary, the best defense strategy should be an active, preemptive approach, a tactic commonly used in military strategies.
“The best defense is attack. That is what military strategies tell us,” Pogu said. “We need to stop being passive. The situation has gone beyond tolerable levels. We’ve seen hundreds of people killed during attacks in these states, and it’s still going on.”
In his statement, Pogu also called for more involvement from the community level in securing their environment. He referenced the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), who had recently emphasized that the first line of defense lies within the community. The MBF president stressed that citizens should not just sit idly while their homes and lives are under constant threat. He encouraged the people to be proactive and defend themselves against these attacks using available means.
What started as a simple farmer-herder conflict has now been transformed into a deadly insurgency, according to Pogu. He pointed out that the attackers now employ advanced methods and sophisticated weaponry, signaling that they may have external support. The use of these high-powered weapons raises concerns about the capacity of the attackers, suggesting that the state and federal governments might need to reassess the nature of the crisis.
Pogu also noted that the perception of the conflict as merely a dispute between farmers and herders was misleading and has allowed these terrorist groups to operate with impunity. He pointed out that many victims who fought back against these attacks were criminalized, as seen in a recent case in Adamawa, where individuals defending themselves were charged and jailed. This, according to Pogu, has only emboldened the attackers, making it more difficult for the people to defend themselves.
Rear Admiral Bitrus Atukum (retd.), a former Military Governor of Plateau State, also weighed in on the ongoing security challenges. Atukum, who served as military governor in the state between 1984 and 1985, expressed deep frustration with the federal government’s response to the attacks.
Atukum questioned why the military has not been deployed more effectively to combat the insurgents, especially in Plateau’s mountainous and hilly regions, where many of the attackers hide their weapons and launch attacks. He emphasized that military forces should be tasked with locating and flushing out these attackers from their hideouts in the hills, where they frequently emerge to commit atrocities before retreating to safety.
Atukum pointed out that the attackers are armed with sophisticated weapons, suggesting that they may have external backing or access to resources from foreign sources. He strongly advocated for the government to officially recognize these attackers as terrorists. “They should be declared as terrorists. These are not just bandits or unknown gunmen; they are terrorists who have been terrorizing our people,” Atukum declared. He further argued that labeling them as terrorists would open the door for more decisive action, allowing security forces to treat them as serious threats to national security.
In addition to stronger military action, Atukum voiced his support for the establishment of state police, suggesting that such a move would enhance local security. He emphasized that the recruitment of officers should be conducted from within the community, as local knowledge would better equip them to handle the specific challenges faced by each region. He argued that local police would be more effective in addressing these complex security issues, as they would have a better understanding of the terrain and the communities they serve.
Atukum also encouraged communities to take an active role in their own defense. He expressed concern that many communities have become passive in the face of constant attacks. In his view, communities should work in cooperation with the government to safeguard their homes, as they are the first line of defense.
“What is difficult in ordering the army to go and fish them out from the hills?” Atukum asked. “These people would come down from the hills, commit havoc, and then disappear again. We know where they hide their weapons, so the government should deploy the military to root them out.”
He also advocated for greater community cooperation with security forces. While calling for stronger military action, Atukum stressed that communities need to work together with the government to fight back against the insurgency. “We cannot do it alone. The government needs to take action, but we also need to rise up and defend ourselves.”
