The Middle Belt Forum has decried the rising level of killings in the North-Central region, describing the loss of lives and properties in the area in the last few years as a genocide worse than what was witnessed during the Civil War.
The President of the forum, Pogu Bitrus, who stated this while reacting to the recent massacre of 95 persons in Plateau and Benue states, warned that with the current state of lawlessness in different parts of the country, Nigeria could witness the emergence of warlords similar to the situation in Somalia.
No fewer than 70 people were killed when gunmen attacked Kanam and Wase communities in Plateau on Sunday while 25 people were killed in the Guma and Tiortyu local government areas of Benue on Monday.
The killing drew condemnation from different parts of the country, with some members of the House of Representatives calling for the sacking or resignation of the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.), and the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd.).
But while speaking with one of our correspondents, Bitrus said, “It is an unfortunate development at a time when we thought things would ease up. After those massacres some two, three years ago, this thing (killing) is rearing its head again. It is unacceptable.
“Whether it is in Taraba, on the Plateau, or in Benue, where people, including traditional rulers, were massacred, or in Southern Kaduna, no life should be lost. Even during the Civil War we did lose this number of people.”
He lamented that the wanton attacks by terrorists on citizens and government infrastructure showed that the Federal Government had failed in its responsibility to protect the lives of Nigerians, adding that terrorists had become a “parallel government”.
