Victims of the prolonged violence in Plateau State have given a harrowing account of their ordeal, alleging gross security failures and official neglect in the face of repeated attacks by armed groups. Speaking during a recent visit by media entrepreneur and storyteller, Chude Jideonwo, residents said attackers often notify communities ahead of assaults, yet help never comes until lives have already been lost.
According to the victims, the warnings are promptly reported to security agencies, particularly the military, but their distress calls are routinely ignored. “These terrorists, before attacking any place in our community, they even inform us before coming,” one survivor recounted. “Even after they inform us, we will call the military immediately to come, but they will never come until they kill us finish. That is when the military will arrive.”
The residents further alleged that in some cases, security operatives later claim the attackers had already passed through their locations without intervention. “Sometimes, security agencies will come and tell us, ‘these terrorists passed us,’” another victim said, expressing disbelief and anguish.
The testimonies paint a grim picture of communities left defenseless amid what residents describe as a campaign of extermination, deepening fears of genocide in parts of Plateau State. Many survivors say the repeated pattern of prior warnings, delayed responses, and post-attack explanations has eroded trust in the state’s ability—or willingness—to protect them.
Chude Jideonwo, visibly moved during the visit, described the accounts as heartbreaking, noting that beyond the statistics of violence are real people who feel abandoned in their darkest moments. The victims are now calling on the federal government and security chiefs to investigate these claims, ensure accountability, and provide immediate, proactive protection to vulnerable communities to prevent further loss of life.
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