Under the auspices of the Forum of Bokkos Development Association and the Berom Youths Moulders Association (BYM), Plateau Youth Groups have accused the Coalition of Fulani Groups of disseminating false information in the media in an attempt to deceive the public and the international community in order to conceal the horrific and senseless massacre of Plateau natives that took place on Christmas Eve in Bokkos, Barkinladi, and Mangu LGAs in Plateau state.
The Fulani Coalition group’s media briefing last Sunday in Jos, according to Plateau organisations Leader Barr Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, was full of lies, cover-ups, and dishonesty. Mwantiri led other Plateau Youths organisations to a press conference on Thursday at the NUJ Press Centre in Jos.
“The Fulani Coalition group Media conference in Jos last Sunday was an attempt to cover, confuse, misdirect and downplay the heinous crimes committed by their bandits, and therefore there was no sincerity in the Fulani’s pretentious condolences which actually amounted to a hidden sense of mockery and hypocricy,” accusing them of speaking from both sides of the mouth.
He stated that the so-called Fulani coalition’s claim that 8 districts spontaneously rose up against the Fulanis or their alleged number of cow herds is completely incorrect.
He challenged the Fulani to be honest enough to tell the world the truth about the December murder of locals in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Mangu by their hired Militias, rather than lying about what their people did to the natives on the Plateau.
To the best of our knowledge, Fulani leaders have been welcomed by local communities for decades, but Fulanis have suddenly deemed themselves unworthy of the hospitality and lodging of the native peoples, who are primarily sedentary peasant farmers.
He accused Fulani militias of pouring fear on weak and harmless villages, annexing their lands, and denying them access to those regions not just on the plateau but also in other states of Nigeria.
According to him, the Fulanis had fully sacked and taken around 102 hamlets/villages on Plateau alone.
The Plateau youth group leader also accused Fulani leaders of murdering Bokkos paramount monarch Da Lazarus Agai, as well as a district and village head in similar circumstances a few years ago.
