A prominent community leader in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Da Yohana Margif, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency in Plateau, citing relentless attacks and killings allegedly carried out by Fulani militia groups.
Margif, who holds the traditional title of Waziri Mushere and was the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, made the appeal during a press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
He expressed deep concern over what he described as the systematic extermination of native communities in Bokkos by armed groups. According to him, seven villages in the LGA have already been captured, with residents either killed, displaced, or living in constant fear.
“The savage killings and destruction of homes continue even as of today, Tuesday, August 5th,” he said. “Seven communities have been captured, and many lives have been lost. No one knows what will happen next. The people cannot sleep and are helpless.”
Margif described the humanitarian crisis in the area as dire, noting that many displaced residents have been forced to wander homeless and hungry in their ancestral land, with no government intervention in sight.
“Innocent villagers have been slaughtered, their homes burnt, and their ancestral lands forcefully taken over. Displaced families now roam as refugees in their fatherland,” he stated.
Calling on the federal government to act swiftly, he said declaring a state of emergency is the only viable option left to prevent the total extinction of communities in Bokkos and other affected areas.
“The primary duty of any government is to protect lives and property. If it fails to do that, then it has no business being in existence,” Margif declared.
He further warned that if urgent action is not taken, “more blood will flow, and entire communities in the state will go into extinction.”
Plateau State has witnessed waves of violent attacks in recent years, often involving longstanding tensions between herders and farming communities. Despite repeated government efforts, the security situation in parts of the state remains fragile.