Youths across Plateau State are raising their voices louder than ever as waves of brutal attacks continue to claim lives and displace thousands in the region. Over the past three months, more than 300 people have been killed in violent raids across Riyom, Mangu, and Bokkos local government areas. Communities that once thrived are now struggling to survive, with an estimated 50,000 residents forced to flee their homes in search of safety. The growing unrest has prompted widespread outrage among youth leaders, who accuse the government of silence and inaction in the face of what many now describe as coordinated ethnic cleansing.
In Riyom’s Jebbu Bindi community, 27 residents were recently laid to rest following yet another attack allegedly carried out by heavily armed militias suspected to be of Fulani origin. Despite the community’s proximity to a military base, witnesses say security forces failed to respond during the hours-long assault. This perceived neglect has deepened mistrust between local communities and those tasked with their protection. “We’re tired of mourning our people and receiving empty words from those in power,” said Comrade Dauda Dung, a youth representative from Riyom. “Each attack is followed by silence, and each burial by more unfulfilled promises.”
Similar frustrations echo from Mangu, where youth leaders allege systemic bias and selective enforcement of the law. “We are arrested for carrying sticks in self-defense, while those wielding AK-47s walk free after slaughtering innocent people,” said Comrade Inusa Pankyes. He criticized repeated invitations to peace meetings, which he claims have become nothing more than photo opportunities. “We can’t continue to sit in meetings with those whose hands are stained with our blood. Our people are dying, and the government keeps calling us for dialogue that leads nowhere.”
The situation in Bokkos paints an equally grim picture. Residents say armed groups are not only killing but actively occupying ancestral lands, effectively establishing control over several communities. Youth leader Micah Joshua described the crisis as an ongoing siege, claiming the attackers are receiving covert backing. “These are no longer sporadic attacks. They are systematic. Our lands are being annexed, and there’s no real effort from the authorities to stop them. It’s as though we are being abandoned on purpose,” he said.
Legal professionals and civil rights advocates are also adding their voices to the growing dissent. Barrister Solomon Dalyop, National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, condemned what he described as institutional complicity and gross negligence by security agencies. “People are being slaughtered just minutes away from military checkpoints, and there is no response. That is not a coincidence—it is a betrayal,” Dalyop remarked. He called on the government to move beyond rhetoric and show genuine commitment by arresting and prosecuting those responsible for the atrocities. “We are not interested in condolence messages anymore. We want justice, and we want it now.”
As fear spreads and hope wanes, Plateau’s younger generation is reaching a breaking point. Many say they are now prepared to take matters into their own hands to protect their communities, insisting they have been left with no other option. “We never asked for violence, but we won’t stand by while our people are slaughtered like animals,” said Dauda Dung. “If the government won’t protect us, then we’ll do whatever it takes to protect ourselves.”
The humanitarian toll continues to rise, and with no meaningful intervention in sight, the region teeters on the edge of a deeper crisis. As the victims are buried and the displaced remain in limbo, the cry for accountability grows louder. What Plateau’s youth are demanding is not war—they are demanding justice, safety, and the right to exist in peace.