Who's to blame for Plateau violence?
We in Whole Truth Nigeria are increasingly concerned at the cycles of violence in Plateau State and half stories told in the media which distort the narrative of what is actually happening here on the ground.
However, we do appreciate the balanced approach of this article which shows how Fulani (ethnically Muslim people group) and Berom/Mwaghavul (ethnically Christian people groups) are both in the wrong, caught up in cycles of revenge and counter-revenge, and that some outfits issuing "terror alerts" are actually parties to the violence.
Some quotes from the article:
“The most dangerous element of the Plateau crisis may not be the first gunshot. It may be what happens after it. A killing produces a story. The story produces anger. Anger produces mobilization and funeral charges. Mobilisation produces another attack. The second attack produces another story. And the cycle continues.”
"Another dimension of the crisis is information warfare. Fake news peddlers and crisis entrepreneurs continue to benefit from the crises while presenting the crises as one-sided to the international community; the facts on the ground continue to speak otherwise. These crisis actors know clearly that terror always strives by creating fear. They therefore always capitalise on the existing situation to create panic. For example, they will immediately issue a threat alert in the community where they already know that their own militiamen have carried out an attack. They will not report the attack; instead, they will issue a warning that the community may come under attack, urging the security agencies to take the bullet on their behalf."
The identity of the victim must never determine the identity of the perpetrator.
“The government does not need to decide whether Fulani or Mwaghavul people are collectively right. It needs to determine who committed which crime.
-If a Mwaghavul militia member kills a Fulani herder, he should be arrested.
-If a Fulani gunman kills a Mwaghavul farmer, he should be arrested.
-If somebody rustles cattle, he should face the law.
-If somebody burns a house, he should face the law.
-If somebody fabricates information to provoke an attack, he should face the law.
If somebody circulates manipulated images to incite violence, that should also attract legal consequences.
The identity of the victim must never determine the identity of the perpetrator.”
Click here to read the full article by Zagazola Makama
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