By Ono Yima
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has unequivocally described the sustained and brutal attacks on communities in the state as genocide, rejecting the long-standing narrative that these are mere conflicts between farmers and herders.
Speaking at the “Experience Plateau: Art Meets Fashion” event held in Abuja, Governor Mutfwang said the recent onslaught in Bokkos Local Government Area, which left scores dead and communities devastated, was not the result of land disputes or communal clashes, but a systematic extermination of natives by armed assailants.
“In the last week, Bokkos Local Government Area has come under renewed attack by murderers who are desperate to break our spirit,” Mutfwang said. “Many advised that we suspend this function, but we realized that these attackers intend to keep us in perpetual mourning, to force us indoors, and to shackle our collective spirit. But I said no, life must go on. Plateau must move forward by the grace of God.”
The governor strongly rejected the framing of the violence as a farmer-herder conflict. “Let me be clear: it is genocide, and I urge the international community to take note,” he declared. “We know there are powerful forces behind these atrocities. By the grace of God, we will expose them and bring them to justice.”
Governor Mutfwang lamented the horrors of the recent killings, recounting how “some of our people were slaughtered while observing a wake; others were murdered in their sleep. May their blood cry out for justice, and may God grant them eternal rest.”
Despite the grief, he reaffirmed the resilience of Plateau people, declaring that “Plateau remains a land of peace and hospitality. Our communities will continue to welcome visitors. No one will rewrite that narrative.”
In a statement released by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, the governor thanked members of the diplomatic corps, the business community, creatives, and investors who attended the Abuja event. He assured them that Jos, the Plateau State capital, remains safe and open for investment.
“Plateau is blessed with vast opportunities in tourism, agriculture, horticulture, a clement climate, and recreational activities that can drive economic growth,” he said. “Our administration is committed to finding innovative and sustainable ways to tell the Plateau story through culture, tourism, enterprise, and strategic partnerships.”
He noted that the state government, in partnership with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), is making deliberate efforts to revive rural artisan skills, empower young creatives, and modernize local textile industries.
The “Experience Plateau: Art Meets Fashion” event was organized by the Plateau State Tourism Corporation, and featured the unveiling of the Goudo Threads of Legacy, a unified state fabric symbolizing Plateau’s unity and cultural identity.
Governor Mutfwang’s bold declaration signals a sobering shift in tone and urgency from regional leadership. By naming the violence as genocide, he challenges not just the national narrative, but also urges international accountability. Nigeria’s continued inability to curb these attacks—despite years of warnings—points to deep systemic failures in security, justice, and governance. If the state cannot protect its citizens from what are now acknowledged as targeted exterminations, then the entire federation must confront not just a humanitarian crisis, but a moral and constitutional breakdown.