A member of the Middle Belt Forum, Stanley Kavwam, has accused the Nigerian government of complicity in the recent wave of killings in Jos, Plateau State, following the death of over 30 persons in Angwan Rukuaba. He warned that continued inaction and failure to act on intelligence reports could lead to further violence across the region.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News on Thursday, Kavwam strongly criticized the government’s handling of security threats, describing it as a failure of responsibility.
“The government… is complicit in all the carnage that is going on across the entire nation,” he said.
He noted that the recent attack on residents of Angwan Rukuaba was not only avoidable but also preceded by clear warnings on social media, which authorities allegedly ignored.
“There were videos on social media… threatening that they were going to unleash terror… [but] they were never apprehended,” he stated.
According to him, the failure to act on early intelligence signals has contributed to repeated loss of lives in the Middle Belt.
“The government treated these warnings… with kid gloves, and that is why we are mourning… over 30 persons,” he added.
Kavwam emphasized that the primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property, warning that Nigeria is falling short of this obligation.
“To be killed in Nigeria is not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when,” he said.
He further alleged that there are coordinated plans to attack multiple communities across Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Benue, and Taraba states, stressing that authorities appear to respond only after tragedies occur.
“The government rather chooses to react after the tragedy… that was the same thing that happened… in Bassa and… Bokkos,” he noted.
The Middle Belt Forum member also decried attempts to politicize the killings, describing such narratives as insensitive to victims.
“How could somebody… equate the life of 30 persons with the political ambition of someone?” he queried.
Addressing the recurring cycle of violence and reprisals, Kavwam argued that lack of accountability has emboldened perpetrators.
“The complicity of silence and government’s tolerance… has emboldened irredentists to see killing human beings as a normal thing,” he said.
He stressed that the criminal justice system must function effectively to deter future attacks, warning that failure to punish offenders encourages further violence.
“When people commit heinous crimes… and we don’t see any decisive action… it would certainly embolden them,” he explained.
Kavwam also linked the pattern of attacks to economic disruption, noting that violence often coincides with farming seasons, thereby instilling fear and undermining livelihoods in affected communities.
As tensions persist in Plateau State and other parts of the Middle Belt, Kavwam’s remarks highlight growing concerns over security lapses and the need for proactive measures. With fears of further attacks looming, calls for accountability and stronger government response continue to intensify.
Triumph Ojo
