Group Faults Political Inaction, Demands Justice for Displaced Communities
The Plateau State Association USA has sounded a renewed alarm over what it calls escalating atrocities and a growing “war of occupation” targeting Christian communities in Plateau State and the wider Middle Belt.
In a strongly worded statement released on November 19, 2025, the association said communities across Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Kanam and other parts of the state have continued to suffer coordinated attacks marked by killings, mass displacement, and the forceful seizure of farmlands.
According to the association, the pattern of violence reveals a deliberate effort to depopulate indigenous Christian communities and dispossess them of their ancestral lands. It described the attacks as systematic, organized, and executed with “deliberate precision.”
Dr. Barth Shepkong, National President of the association, said the situation can no longer be dismissed as communal unrest. “This is genocide, driven by targeted Christian persecution,” he asserted. “Entire communities are being erased through a war of occupation.”
Failure of Political Will
The Plateau State Association USA attributed the persistence of the crisis to what it termed a dangerous lack of political courage to confront perpetrators and dismantle violent networks. It warned that continued silence not only emboldens attackers but also undermines prospects for lasting peace.
“Any peace built on denial or political convenience is false and unsustainable,” the statement noted, stressing that vulnerable populations must be given credible protection.
Demands for Immediate Intervention
The association rolled out a set of urgent recommendations, including:
• Prosecution of all attackers and their sponsors without political interference.
• Humanitarian relief for thousands of displaced families.
• Security reforms and establishment of community-based protection mechanisms.
• Rebuilding of destroyed communities and ensuring safe return of displaced persons.
• Stronger collaboration with international partners to expand justice and humanitarian support.
Through its R64 Diaspora Campaign Fund, the Plateau State Association USA said it continues to assist displaced persons and support community rehabilitation across all 17 LGAs and 64 wards of the state.
Reaffirming its resolve, the group stated: “We are not appealing for pity. We are demanding justice. We are demanding accountability.”