Plateau Killings: Ex-Military Administrator Urges FG To Designate Killer Herdsmen As Terrorists

Plateau Killings: Ex-Military Administrator Urges FG To Designate Killer Herdsmen As Terrorists

Rear Admiral Bitrus Atukum (rtd), former military administrator of Plateau State, has urged the Federal Government to officially classify the Fulani herdsmen responsible for recurring attacks on Plateau communities as terrorists.

Atukum asserted that the primary objective of these assailants is to entrench poverty among the local populace through persistent violence. He further described their actions as acts of economic sabotage, highlighting that most attacks are strategically timed to coincide with the planting and harvesting seasons. According to him, land seizure is also a major motive behind the aggression…READ MORE….

Expressing concern over the government’s handling of the security crisis, Atukum criticized the response as inadequate, especially in light of the recent killings in Bokkos Local Government Area, where over 50 lives were lost and thousands displaced.

“The continuous attacks by Fulani herders on villages constitute a clear act of terrorism,” Atukum stated. “The government must recognize this and formally label them as terrorists. These groups are not only targeting defenseless civilians but are challenging the sovereignty and security of the nation.”

He emphasized the need for communities to take proactive measures in defending their ancestral lands against such threats.

Atukum also condemned remarks made during a recent press conference in Kaduna by Fulani group leader Garba Abdullahi Mohammed, stating that such comments, particularly in the aftermath of the Bokkos massacre, are inflammatory and unacceptable.

“Freedom of speech should not be a cover for justifying or encouraging violence,” he said. “The government has access to intelligence that can verify and investigate the claims made.”

Challenging the narrative of a “farmer-herder clash,” Atukum questioned, “How can there be a clash in someone’s home? These are deliberate, unprovoked attacks.”

He called for more decisive military intervention, especially in Plateau’s hilly terrain, which he alleged is being used as a hideout and weapons storage by the perpetrators.

“These attackers descend from the hills, wreak havoc, and retreat to their hideouts. The government must do more to root them out,” he concluded