A former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has raised a serious alarm over the renewed violence in Plateau State, insisting that what is happening is no longer conflict but “genocide.”
Dalung said the pattern of killings, displacements, and coordinated attacks shows a deliberate attempt to wipe out indigenous communities and seize their land.
He accused the federal government and security agencies of watching silently while armed groups take control of villages and force residents out.
According to him, the scale of the violence and the speed at which communities are falling point to an organised mission, not isolated clashes.
Speaking during an interview, Dalung traced the crisis from political disagreements to religious and ethnic tensions, and later into full-scale criminality. But he said the situation has now reached a disturbing phase.
“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 said.
The former minister stressed that the takeover of communities is no longer speculation.
Citing information made public by Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, he said more than 64 communities have been forcefully occupied by armed groups.
“These organised criminals have taken sizable communities; according to the governor, over 64 communities have been taken over by them,” he stated.
Dalung lamented that the attackers have become more confident because the government has not shown decisive will to confront them.
He noted that the silence from authorities at both federal and state levels is sending the wrong signal, especially to residents who feel abandoned and helpless.
He warned that without urgent action, the attackers may permanently alter the demography of Plateau State.
