The forum of the central belt accusation ribadu of “pampering shepherds Fulani, terrorists”

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) is deeply worried about the comments made by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, during his recent visit of condolences to the governor of the State of Benue, father Hyacinth alia, following the horrible attacks of armed men identified as Fulani Herdsmen.
These attacks have left the dead scores, entire displaced communities and thousands of people fleeing for despair, joining the ranks of hundreds of thousands who already live as internal displaced (IDP) in their homeland.

What should have been a solemn and compassionate visit has turned into a controversial development. As he condemned violence, the NSA minimized the crisis by suggesting that it was part of a global trend, citing examples such as Sudan and Mauritania. Even more disturbing, he denied any territorial control by armed groups in Nigeria, contradicting well documented realities.

This negation flies in the face of the tests. Only in the Benue State, where Ribadu did these statements, many communities remain under the occupation of the militants of Fulani armed who have violently moved the original inhabitants. Similar situations persist through southern parts of Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara. Even the governor Babagana Zulum of Borno publicly admitted that Boko Haram regained control of the areas from which they had once been expelled.

The MBF is therefore alarmed and perplexed by the NSA declarations. Who is informing him? What bases is it rejecting credible news of employment and atrocity? His observations are not only inaccurate, they are insensitive, especially when so many IDPs live in subhuman conditions, in violation of their dignity, houses and means of subsistence. Suggest that nobody occupies their lands is to deny them justice and the hope of returning to their homes and the return paid in the future.

Raising the concerns further is the “** North Central workshop on the development of a national framework on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration”* currently organized in Makurdi as part of the NSA office. While these framework are fundamental, there is an evident omission and the MBF has its position on it.
In the meantime, last year, the Governor Uba Sani of the State of Kaduna granted the amnesty to the so -called “repentant” terrorists to Bernin Gwari. He said it was a result of a solid collaboration with the NSA office. He committed to rehabilitating them, for having dropped his arms. These are men who have committed mass murders, sweet fire and kidnappings. However, a word was not said about their countless victims: the families shattered, the communities ruined and the lives reduced to misery.
We suspect that the current seminar can align with the Kaduna model, which has not taken into consideration the victims and has no room for justice.

We must ask: The proposed disarmament seminar also take into consideration the communities that, in despair, have armed rudimentary weapons to defend themselves from the invaded terrorists? This does not contradict February 2025 calls the general manager of the Department of State Services, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, exhorting communities to act as first rescuers in the self -defense?

*Our position:
*No general amnesty for terrorists: the government does not have to allow the killers and cleaning destroyers to simply surrender to weapons and leave free. Justice must be served.

*Right to self -defense: the communities under siege should be supported, not disarmed. The government should help them legally procure light weapons, train youth volunteers and place them under the supervision of controlled or safety personnel, serving or withdrawn.

*State and local polycying: the MBF reiterates its request for the establishment of the State Police, as well as the structures of the local government and the Rione Police. Safety must be located to be effective.

*No unilateral forgiveness of criminals: amnesty and reintegration programs must follow legal processes and legislative support. Federal and state governments must not forgive unilaterally terrorists without public responsibility.

Time has come for serious, responsible and empathetic governance that truly reflects the pain and suffering of the affected communities. The NSA must offer a leadership that reassures the victims, not pampered terrorists. The hundreds of thousands of “repentant” terrorists of Boko Haram granted the amnesty did not solve the insurrection in the north -est.

Signed:
Luka Binniyat
National spokesman,
Central belt forum