The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, is set to visit Plateau State, today following a wave of attacks and killings by gunmen in the Bokkos and Bassa communities, which have claimed many lives over the past two weeks.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, disclosed this during a visit by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, to the affected communities in Bassa on Saturday.

“My heart is with you, and I convey also that of Mr President, who is so concerned that he asked us to come here — not just me alone, but also the Minister of Defence.

“Last week, the NSA was here, and on Monday, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be here to engage the stakeholders of Plateau State because Mr President said these killings must come to an end,” Nentawe stated.

PUNCH Online gathered that, during the visit, the Vice President will convene a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss strategies for enhancing security and promoting peace in the state.

The Defence Minister, who was accompanied by the General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, and other security chiefs, assured the people of the Federal Government’s commitment to ending the killings.

He emphasised that the government would take decisive action to address the security challenges in the state.

Badaru said, “Mr President is committed to this, and he has directed that we must find the perpetrators of this evil and bring them to justice. The security agencies are investigating the matter seriously. God willing, we will get to the root of it, the perpetrators will be apprehended, and they will face justice.

“The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs has already provided some support, and together we will continue to assist them. He has just announced a planning programme that will address the welfare of widows, and the Federal Government is determined to alleviate the suffering of the victims.”

Meanwhile, the Plateau Youth Council, Northern Zone, has raised concerns over the wave of violent attacks on rural communities in Bassa and Riyom Local Government Areas, which coincide with the start of the wet farming season.

Addressing journalists in Jos, the PYC Northern Zone Coordinator, Comrade Samson Chiroma, described the attacks as “acts of genocide” rather than communal clashes.

He argued that the timing of the attacks — just as the farming season begins — suggests a calculated attempt to prevent the people from cultivating their land and to plunge them into economic hardship.

Chiroma rejected the Federal Government’s classification of the violence as communal clashes, accusing armed Fulani militias of orchestrating the attacks.

He expressed frustration over what he described as the government’s inadequate response and failure to acknowledge the true nature of the crisis.

The youth leader affirmed the Council’s support for Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s recent statewide broadcast, stating that the governor’s message captured the mood and pain of Plateau citizens.

“The governor spoke the minds of Plateau youths. We are ready to use all legal means to seek justice for our people. We will no longer fold our arms and watch our brothers and sisters being slaughtered without provocation.

“Garba said peace will continue to elude Plateau until certain conditions are met. Just days later, our people were attacked. Is that a coincidence?

“If the authorities are serious about ending these killings, they must start by questioning those who make inciting statements. Otherwise, it will appear that some people are above the law,” he stated.

Chiroma called on the Plateau State Government to strengthen Operation Rainbow — a local security outfit — by recruiting more personnel and equipping them with modern tools.

He also urged the government to take decisive action against those making inciting statements, warning that patience is wearing thin in the affected communities.

Chiroma stressed that the people of Plateau State would no longer fold their arms while their loved ones are being killed, and warned that if another attack occurs, the youth should not be blamed for the consequences.