As Nigeria marked this year’s Democracy Day, the Plateau State chapter of the Take It Back (TIB) Movement has issued a sobering statement, describing the day as a “mourning period” for citizens in conflict-ridden regions. The group condemned rising insecurity, mass killings, and displacement across Plateau State, calling on the Federal Government to initiate an independent and transparent investigation into the violence.
Speaking during a press conference in Jos, the State Coordinator of the movement, Comrade John Onah, accused the government of abandoning its constitutional duty to protect lives. He urged the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to respond urgently to what he called a “full-blown humanitarian crisis.”
“Every day, Plateau citizens wake up to the sound of gunfire, burning homes, and the lifeless bodies of their loved ones,” Onah lamented. “This is no longer just a security issue — it is the collapse of governance and responsibility.”
Citing data from Amnesty International Nigeria, Onah revealed that at least 2,630 people have been killed in Plateau State since 2023. Nationally, over 10,217 lives have reportedly been lost to violent attacks, with 672 villages sacked across Benue, Niger, and Plateau states.
He warned that communities in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Riyom, and Bokkos LGAs remain under siege, with more than 150,000 persons displaced, schools shut down, and access to food, shelter, and healthcare severely limited.
Federal Government Must Act
The TIB movement outlined a series of demands directed at the Federal Government:
- Immediate deployment of intelligence-driven security operations to high-risk areas.
- A coordinated humanitarian response to hunger, displacement, and healthcare needs.
- Restoration of destroyed communities and livelihoods.
- An independent investigation led by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) into all cases of mass killings and displacements.
Onah emphasized that Plateau State has been sidelined from critical federal interventions and infrastructure support, accusing the central government of “indifference” in the face of widespread suffering.
State Government Must Move Beyond Condolences
Turning to the Plateau State Government, the movement criticized Governor Caleb Mutfwang for offering condolences rather than decisive action.
“If the governor cannot protect his people or empower them to defend themselves, he should resign,” Onah declared, referencing Section 14(b) of the Nigerian Constitution, which prioritizes the security and welfare of the people.
TIB’s demands to the state government include:
- Full funding and empowerment of local peace commissions and community-based security outfits, particularly Operation Rainbow.
- Regular public updates on investigations and justice efforts.
- Inclusion of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in recovery and trauma counseling programs.
- Support for displaced children to return to school.
Call to Security Agencies and Civil Society
The group also called on security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering and coordination, and to hold personnel accountable in cases of negligence or complicity.
It further appealed to civil society organizations and the media to amplify the voices of survivors, demand transparency, and remain steadfast in the pursuit of justice and peace.
“Though the situation in Plateau may seem dire, it is not hopeless,” Onah said. “We speak not to spread fear but to inspire urgency. For the sake of democracy, justice, and human dignity, we must take it back.”
