Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has carpeted the top commanders and military service chiefs in Nigeria for clearly misusing military troops for such illegality as cordoning off a massive business premises that employs over 10,000 Nigerian households: Banex Plaza Wuse two Abuja only because few soldiers had physical confrontation with street urchins loitering around the plaza rather than deploy them to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria which is why terrorists and bandits kill Nigerians indiscriminately especially in Plateau State. HURIWA said it is regrettable that soldiers and their Generals have collectively decided not to protect the undefended citizens but are behaving like they are enjoying the spate of attacks and killings. We have asked severally that these terror attacks be investigated to ascertain if some top military Generals are benefitting from the seemingly unending war against civilians by armed non-state actors all over Nigeria.

HURIWA CONDEMNS the National Assembly leadership and especially the committees on Armed forces for dereliction of duties by failing to thoroughly investigate these illegal deployment of soldiers to pursue frivolous objectives instead of deploying armed troops to clinically wage massive warfare against hundreds of thousands of armed non-state actors and terrorists who are roaming around everywhere including the Federal Capital Territory kidnapping citizens, killing cutizens, destroying their property and causing a scale of unprecedented insecurity and instability in Nigeria.

HURIWA asked: “Why is president Bola Ahmed Tinubu not taking steps to instill discipline and professionalism on the ranks and file of the armed forces of Nigeria but is watching some armed security agents as they embark on illegal duties which threatens constitutional democracy? The president needs to act to stop anarchy and self help from overwhelming the nation because if these terrorists continued to decimate the population who are unarmed, the constitution permits the citizens to defend their right to life which is inviolable, and SACROSANCT.”

HURIWA’S media statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko comes against the backdrops of reports filtering in from parts of Plateau state that bandits in large numbers reportedly attacked a Plateau community, Zurak village, in the Bashar District of Wase Local Government Area, killing more than 40 people, including vigilantes.

According to residents of the community, the incident happened on Monday, 20 May 2024, around 5 pm.

The residents said they could not immediately report the attack due to the poor communication network in the area.

A youth leader In the area, Sahpi’I Sambo confirmed that the bandits arrived at the community on motorcycles with sophisticated weapons and started shooting sporadically.

“More than 40 people were killed while many were injured,” he said. “Residents of the village have fled to neighbouring communities for cover.”

He added that as of yesterday, security personnel had not yet arrived in the community.

Monday’s attack on Zurak village is the latest by bandits on a community in Plateau.

In March, at least seven people were confirmed dead after bandits attacked a market in the Wase Local Government Area.

The attack, which happened at Zurak Compani Market, also left several others injured.

Also in April, bandits attacked two villages, Mandung- Mushu and Kopnanle, in Plateau State and killed no fewer than 10 people.

The attacks left several people injured, with property, including the the homes of the villagers, set ablaze.

Condemning these incessant attacks, the killings and targeting for extinction the largely Christian dominated Plateau State which is genocide and crimes against humanity, HURIWA is calling on the INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT to step in and ask President Tinubu to stop these genocides of Plateau natives and the subtle attempts by Fulani terrorists to seize their highly fertile and agriculturally rich, resource rich lands of Plateau natives which according to the Rights group is the reason for the targeting of Plateau natives and sadly, the armed forces of Nigeria have decided not to stop these killings and bri g perpetrators to trial.

“We will compile records of these dozens of attacks and send to the INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT IN THE HAGUE NETHERLANDS to assess them and determine if the service chiefs in Nigeria can be charged for war crimes for doing nothing whilst armed terrorists kill off unarmed and undefended citizens. We calm on the Plateau State Governor to act swiftly to stop these killings of civilians and farmers in his state.

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