Solomon Dalung has accused the Nigerian government of enabling what he describes as genocidal attacks and mass displacement in Plateau State.
A former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has described the escalating violence in Plateau State as “genocide,” accusing authorities of allowing organized criminal groups to overrun indigenous communities, according to SAHARA REPORTERS.
Dalung said the crisis, which began from political disagreements, evolved into ethnic and religious tensions before transforming into organised criminality aimed at ethnic cleansing.
He warned that the situation has now deteriorated into a calculated campaign of elimination and displacement. “It started from the realm of politics to ethnicity and religion from religion it went into criminality organised criminality and where we are now is a genocidal elimination of ethnic or indigenous communities and land grabbing,” he stated.
Dalung further disclosed that more than 64 communities have been overtaken by criminal groups, citing information from Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang. “These organised criminals have taken sizable communities; according to the governor, over 64 communities have been taken over by them,” he added.
His remarks come amid rising incidents of killings, arson, kidnapping, and forced displacement across Plateau’s rural areas. Dalung lamented that the silence and inaction of the government and security agencies have emboldened the attackers.
Although Plateau State has faced decades of cyclical violence, community leaders say the scale and coordination of recent attacks suggest a deliberate plan to alter the region’s demographic structure.