The Plateau Youth Council (PYC), Barkin Ladi Local Government Area chapter, has strongly condemned a social media post by Masara Kim Usman concerning the mass burial held in Ratatis village, Dorowa Babuje, following the February 22, 2026 terrorist attack that claimed several lives.
The council, during a press conference held at the Youth Centre in Gwol on June 10, 2026, described the post and its accompanying caption as misleading, provocative, and capable of reopening the wounds of families and communities still recovering from the tragedy.
Addressing journalists, PYC Chairman of Barkin Ladi, Rwas Zang Apollos, said the council undertook a careful review of the video and concluded that the caption attached to it was a deliberate misrepresentation of what transpired during the burial ceremony.
“We found this caption not only irresponsible and mischievous, but also a calculated attempt to misrepresent the events of that day, incite public resentment, and tarnish the reputation of Hon. Peter Kanang Gwom.”
The council maintained that the publication was not a genuine effort to seek justice for victims of the attack but an attempt to generate controversy around a painful event that occurred four months ago.
“This is not a condolence message but an attempt to dance bad music on the grave of our slain brothers and sisters by sensational act of journalism.”
According to the youth body, Hon. Peter Kanang Gwom, Commissioner for Environment, Climate Change and Mineral Development, attended the mass burial as both a mourner and the most senior government representative present at the event, making it unfair to portray him as someone who was rejected by mourners.
“At no point did Peter Kanang Gwom justify the killings of a people he loves and is serving in Government.”
The council further expressed concern over what it described as the exploitation of the pain and suffering of victims for social media engagement, warning against narratives capable of causing division within affected communities.
“As youths of Barkin Ladi, we will not fold our arms and watch individuals exploit the pain of our people to create social media content.”
The PYC demanded the immediate deletion of the video and caption from all social media platforms within seven days and called on Masara Kim Usman to publicly apologize to Hon. Peter Kanang Gwom, the people of Barkin Ladi, and the Berom Nation for what it termed a deliberate distortion of facts.
“Advocacy loses its moral authority when it becomes a vehicle for character assassination. The people of Barkin Ladi deserve truth, fairness, and responsible public discourse.”
While reaffirming its commitment to justice for victims of insecurity, the council stressed that accountability must be pursued through truthful and responsible engagement rather than sensational narratives capable of inflaming tensions.
The youth body also commended recent government efforts to improve security across Plateau State but urged authorities to intensify actions aimed at protecting lives and property, insisting that the welfare and safety of citizens must remain a top priority.
