LAGOS, Nigeria – Solomon Dalung, the former Minister of Youth and Sports, has described the recent killings in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State as acts of terrorism rather than a continuation of the long-standing farmer-herder conflicts that have plagued the region.
On Thursday, April 3, 2025, the Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) reported that suspected bandits killed more than 10 people in Bokkos LGA on Wednesday night, with the death toll reportedly rising to 52 by Saturday, April 5, 2025.
The attack occurred just one week after gunmen attacked the Ruwi community in the same LGA, where mourners had gathered to pay their respects at a deceased person’s home.
Appearing on the ‘Morning Show’ on Arise TV on Monday, April 7, 2025, Dalung emphasized that the recent violence in Plateau State should not be mistaken for the usual farmer-herder disputes.
He argued that there is a deeper, more sinister agenda at play.
“One major issue on the Plateau is mislabeling criminals based on ethnic identities or community relations,” Dalung said.
“The violence here isn’t a farmer-herder conflict; it’s terrorism. These groups have an enclave similar to those in the north-east, where they steal cattle, seize land and establish a parallel government in the bush.”
Dalung’s comments come amid escalating violence in Plateau State, where bandits have terrorized communities, often under the guise of inter-communal conflict.
He pointed out that these criminal elements operate with clear intentions to exert control over territory and resources, a dynamic that goes beyond the traditional tensions between farmers and herders.
Meanwhile, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s security strategy, blaming the government for the recurring violence across the country.
He described the failure of Tinubu’s security architecture as an “endemic nationwide phenomenon,” with killings happening repeatedly, often without receiving adequate media attention.
Abubakar called on President Tinubu to “reconfigure” the nation’s security architecture to ensure the safety of Nigerians and prevent further loss of lives and property.
The recent killings in Plateau have sparked widespread concern about the growing influence of terrorist groups in Nigeria and the perceived inadequacies of the country’s security apparatus in combating such violence.
