Vice President Kashim Shettima is scheduled to visit Plateau State on Monday following a series of deadly attacks in the Bokkos and Bassa communities, which have resulted in numerous fatalities over the past two weeks.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, confirmed this during a visit by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, to the affected communities in Bassa on Saturday.
Yilwatda conveyed the concern of President Muhammadu Buhari, emphasizing that the violence must end.
“My heart is with you, and I convey also that of Mr. President, who is so concerned that he asked us to come here — not just me alone, but also the Minister of Defence,” Yilwatda said.
“Last week, the NSA was here, and on Monday, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be here to engage the stakeholders of Plateau State because Mr. President said these killings must come to an end.”
During the visit, Shettima is expected to lead a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss strategies to improve security and foster peace in the state. Badaru, accompanied by other security chiefs, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ending the killings, assuring the people that those responsible would be brought to justice.
“We are committed to this, and we will find the perpetrators of these heinous acts and bring them to justice,” Badaru stated.
“The security agencies are investigating the matter seriously, and God willing, we will get to the root of it.”
The Plateau Youth Council, Northern Zone, has expressed concern over the ongoing attacks in the rural communities of Bassa and Riyom Local Government Areas. Comrade Samson Chiroma, the PYC Northern Zone Coordinator, criticized the violence, describing it as “acts of genocide” rather than mere communal clashes.
He highlighted the timing of the attacks, coinciding with the beginning of the farming season, which he believes was an intentional move to disrupt local agriculture and deepen economic hardship.
“The attacks appear to be a calculated attempt to prevent the people from cultivating their land,” Chiroma argued. “We reject the Federal Government’s classification of the violence as communal clashes and blame armed Fulani militias for orchestrating the attacks.”
Chiroma also expressed frustration with what he perceived as the government’s insufficient response to the violence. He called for stronger action, including an increased presence of the local security outfit, Operation Rainbow, and a crackdown on those making inciting statements.
“The people of Plateau State will not stand idly by while our loved ones are slaughtered,” Chiroma warned. “If the authorities are serious about ending these killings, they must address the root causes of the violence and hold those responsible accountable.”
