By Tgnews
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has sharply criticized National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for downplaying the devastating attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen during a condolence visit to Benue State Governor, Father Hyacinth Alia.
The assaults have killed scores, displaced entire communities, and swelled the ranks of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benue and beyond. Ribadu’s remarks, which framed the violence as part of a global trend and denied territorial control by armed groups in Nigeria, sparked outrage for contradicting stark realities.
MBF National Spokesman Luka Binniyat, in a fiery press statement, challenged Ribadu’s claims, citing evidence of Fulani militants occupying communities in Benue, Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, and Zamfara.
Who is briefing the NSA? His callous remarks deny justice and hope to IDPs enduring subhuman conditions
Borno Governor Babagana Zulum’s recent admission of Boko Haram’s resurgence in previously liberated areas further undermines the NSA’s narrative. “Who is briefing the NSA?” Binniyat demanded. “His callous remarks deny justice and hope to IDPs enduring subhuman conditions.”
The MBF also expressed alarm over the “North Central Workshop on Developing a National Framework on Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration” in Makurdi, organized under the NSA’s office. Fearing a repeat of Kaduna’s 2024 amnesty for “repentant” terrorists—criticized for ignoring victims’ suffering—the Forum insisted that justice for devastated families and communities must not be sidelined.
Binniyat questioned whether the workshop might disarm communities forced to defend themselves, potentially clashing with the Department of State Services’ February 2025 call for communities to act as first responders.
The MBF’s demands are unequivocal: terrorists must face justice, not amnesty; communities under siege should be supported with legal weapons and trained volunteers under vetted security supervision; State and local policing must be established; and amnesty programs require legal processes and public accountability.
The time for empathetic governance is now. The NSA must reassure victims, not pamper terrorists
“The time for empathetic governance is now,” Binniyat declared. “The NSA must reassure victims, not pamper terrorists. The failed amnesty for ‘repentant’ Boko Haram members proves this approach does not end insurgency.”
The Middle Belt Forum called on Federal and State Governments to prioritize justice, localized security, and the dignity of displaced Nigerians.
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