Full Story: Military Overwhelmed as Spokesmen Duck Questions from Press
By Masara Kim
(Jos) Thousands of Christians have fled their homes following a surge in terror attacks in Plateau State, Nigeria, leading to urgent calls for U.S. intervention.
As of April 3, more than 50 people have been killed in just ten days in farming areas south of Jos, the state capital, according to tribal leaders. Gov. Caleb Mutfwang has labeled the attacks as genocidal, pressing for self-defense amidst claims of military inaction.
On April 2nd alone, more than 30 people lost their lives during a raid of five villages located 50-60 miles south of Jos, TruthNigeria has learned. Police and army officials are not speaking to the press.
Witnesses allege soldiers from Operation Safe Haven, a joint military-police task force, were overpowered during the initial invasion and arrived late during subsequent attacks.
“We urge the international community—including the United States, United Nations, and African Union—to pressure Nigerian authorities to take decisive actions to end the violence and protect Christians and other religious minorities from radical Islamists seeking to impose a caliphate in Nigeria,” wrote Farmasum Fuddang, the leader of a local development association.
“The peaceful and hospitable people of our local government area are under threat from terrorists who seek to seize our land and impose a caliphate,” wrote Fuddang in a statement.
“This agenda must be stopped, and their senseless bloodletting must be confronted by all possible means,” wrote Fuddang, the Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard.
According to Fuddang, terrorists speaking the Fulani dialect embarked on a bloody campaign in five villages across the Bokkos county [Local Government Area] on April 2nd, killing dozens just days after killing 15 in the area.
“Survivors reported that the attackers, speaking the Fulani dialect, launched a brazen assault in broad daylight around noon in Mangor Tamiso, in Central Plateau State 40 miles south of Jos, then moved to Daffo, Manguna (Tagai), and invaded Hurti and Tadai,” wrote Fuddang, reiterating calls for self-defense.
“Even the authorities – those saddled with the protection of lives and property recognize this right. Among them is the Director-General of the Nigerian State Security Services, Adeola Ajayi,” wrote Fuddang.
TruthNigeria has reported that during the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies in Abuja, Mr. Ajayi boldly called on citizens to defend against terrorists.
“We can stop these criminals,” said Ajayi, urging political leaders to pass laws allowing citizens to bear arms for self-defense.
“You can imagine, you call sector, let’s say sector four or whatever, sector of the army, to come to this community if there’s an attack. Before they even arrive there, if they attack another community, what happens?” He asked.
“We have to allow some level of armament for the community, and they can serve as the first line of defense,” Ajayi said.
Nigeria’s current constitution [CFRN 1999] recognizes right to self-defense in section 286:
“When a person is unlawfully assaulted, and has not provoked the assault, it is lawful for him to use such force to the assailant as is reasonably necessary to make effectual defense against the assault,” it says.
However, dozens of civilians have been arrested and/or shot at by the Nigerian military in Plateau State while defending their homes with makeshift weapons against swarms of terrorists armed with assault and sniper rifles.
The Nigerian military has claimed it is mediating in violent confrontations between militias of various ethnicities.
Masara Kim is an award-winning conflict reporter in Jos and a senior editor at TruthNigeria
