Group decries ‘genocide’ in Plateau, demands eviction of armed Fulani militias

An advocacy group under the aegis of Bokkos Likeminds Association (BLA) has raised alarm over what it describes as an ongoing campaign of genocide and violent displacement in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, calling on federal and state authorities to urgently intervene before the entire indigenous population is wiped out.

In a statement jointly signed by Dr. S.T. Nguwap (President) and Engr. Morgan Mangai (General Secretary), the group condemned the wave of incessant attacks, killings, destruction of homes, and displacement of communities in the area by suspected armed Fulani militias, describing the violence as “systematic, organized, and genocidal.”

“What is happening in Bokkos is not random violence. It is a calculated attempt to eliminate our people, occupy their ancestral lands, and erase their heritage. These attacks are threatening the very survival of our communities,” the statement read.

The BLA said the scale and frequency of the attacks have become unbearable, with hundreds of lives lost, entire villages razed, and families forced to flee farmlands and homes where they have lived for generations.

Demands for Urgent Action

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The group issued a list of demands and proposed reforms aimed at stopping the carnage and restoring peace in the region. Chief among them is the immediate eviction of Fulani immigrants who, according to the association, have no ancestral ties or legal claim to lands in Bokkos.

“We demand the removal of all non-indigenous Fulani settlers who cannot trace their ancestral origin to Bokkos or present valid documentation for their residency,” the BLA insisted.

The association appealed to the Plateau State Government, the Federal Government, and the international community to act swiftly to bring justice and end the cycle of violence.

“We are calling on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, security agencies, and international human rights bodies to rise to the occasion. Our people are dying every day. Whole communities are being wiped out in silence,” the group said.

They further urged the National Assembly, civil society groups, and global human rights organizations to investigate the ongoing atrocities in Bokkos and take steps to prosecute perpetrators and sponsors of the attacks.

Escalating Insecurity in Plateau

Bokkos, located in Plateau Central Senatorial District, has become one of the epicenters of recurring ethno-religious violence in the Middle Belt. Attacks by suspected herders on farming communities have led to a protracted humanitarian crisis, with thousands of displaced persons seeking refuge in neighboring local governments or informal camps.

Despite several military operations and peace efforts by past administrations, local stakeholders say the pattern of impunity and government inaction has emboldened attackers and left rural communities increasingly vulnerable.

The Bokkos Likeminds Association warned that without immediate intervention, Nigeria risks another major humanitarian catastrophe and a collapse of confidence in the state’s ability to protect its citizens.

“We are running out of time. If the government continues to look away, history will record this as one of the greatest failures of leadership and justice in Nigeria’s modern era,” the group concluded.