Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has strongly condemned the ongoing killings in Plateau State, accusing the Federal Government of complacency and denial in the face of what he described as genocidal attacks.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Monday, Dalung criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for failing to take decisive action against the rising wave of violence in Plateau, particularly the recent Bokkos Local Government Area attacks where over 50 people were killed.
“There is nothing like herder-farmer clashes on the Plateau. These are terrorists. They have enclaves, they grab land, seize cattle, and displace native communities,” Dalung said. “These areas are known, yet no action is taken.”
He dismissed the idea that the Ministry of Livestock Development could solve the crisis, describing the violence as far beyond administrative solutions.
“Let’s stop hiding behind the Ministry of Livestock. It won’t solve anything. What’s missing is political will,” he stated. “If the government is serious, it should call these people what they are—terrorists, not ethnic or communal agitators.”
Dalung argued that the scale and nature of the attacks meet international criteria for genocide.
“When a group repeatedly targets another group with the intent to wipe them out—through violence or starvation—that’s genocide,” he said. “What we’re seeing in Plateau is nothing less.”
He further questioned the preparedness and strategy of security agencies, especially their reliance on excuses such as poor road access.
“In today’s world, access roads shouldn’t be an issue. What happened to drones, surveillance technology, and intelligence gathering?” he asked.
Dalung urged the Federal Government to stop attaching ethnic labels to the attackers and instead treat them as criminals undermining national unity.
“Yes, some may come from a particular ethnic group, but they’re not fighting for that group. They’re criminals, and until we treat them as such, the killings will continue,” he warned.
Meanwhile, local leaders have continued to report the toll of the violence. Hurti village alone saw 40 deaths and the displacement of over 1,000 residents during recent attacks, according to Village Head Maren Aradong, who hosted government officials on an assessment visit led by the Secretary to the State Government, Samuel Jatau.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has also spoken out, describing the attacks as coordinated crimes executed by “conflict merchants,” not isolated herder-farmer disputes.
He called for urgent national attention and coordinated security efforts to bring lasting peace to the troubled region.
