On Democracy Day 2025, the Plateau State chapter of the Take It Back Movement called on the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu to launch a transparent and independent investigation into the widespread killings and displacement occurring in the state. The group proposed that the National Human Rights Commission should lead this inquiry.
During a press briefing held in Jos, State Coordinator John Onah, speaking alongside other executives, highlighted the severity of the situation. He cited data from Amnesty International Nigeria indicating that at least 2,630 individuals have been killed in Plateau State since the current administration began two years ago. Nationwide figures suggest over 10,217 deaths attributed to ongoing violence, with 672 villages reportedly sacked in Benue, Niger, and Plateau States by armed groups.
Onah emphasized that these statistics represent real people whose lives have been devastated, pointing to a growing humanitarian crisis with displaced communities, abandoned schools, and thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) lacking essential resources like food, shelter, and healthcare. He noted that in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Riyom, and Bokkos LGAs alone, over 150,000 people have been forced from their homes since President Tinubu and Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang assumed office.
The group presented several demands to the federal government, including the immediate deployment of intelligence-driven security operations to the most vulnerable LGAs in Plateau, a coordinated humanitarian response for affected communities, investment in rebuilding sacked villages and restoring livelihoods, and the initiation of independent, transparent investigations led by the National Human Rights Commission into incidents of mass killings and village displacements.
Addressing the Plateau State Government, their demands included funding and empowering local peace commissions, vigilante networks, and community-based security efforts, such as equipping Operations Rainbow. They also asked for regular updates to citizens on investigations and justice processes, and the inclusion of IDPs and survivors in recovery planning, trauma counseling, and educational support.
To security agencies, the Take It Back Movement urged improved coordination and intelligence gathering to prevent attacks, and accountability for officers found negligent or complicit. They also encouraged civil society and the media to amplify the voices of survivors and displaced persons, hold public officials accountable, and advocate for justice, equity, and peace. While acknowledging the difficult situation, the group stressed their commitment to defending democracy, justice, and human dignity.
