Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang has described the killing of 45 persons in Bassa community as a calculated campaign of cleansing against indigenous ethnic nationalities of Plateau State.

Mutfwang made this known in a statewide broadcast in Jos on Tuesday.

The broadcast came after an emergency security council meeting in Government House Little Rayfield Jos.

Mutfwang said: “Let me make it abundantly clear: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! The lives of Plateau people matter. We will no longer allow our communities to be turned into killing fields. These are not isolated Incidents. They are coordinated acts of terror aimed at instilling fear, displacing our people, and ultimately undermining our right to exist peacefully on our ancestral lands.

“Let it be clearly stated: these attacks are not random incidents. They are premeditated, coordinated, and driven by a clear and sinister agenda. While the state has grappled with various forms of criminality, such as kidnappings and cattle rustling, the violence ravaging many of our communities cannot be truthfully described as mere farmer-herder clashes.

“That narrative is not only misleading and dangerous, but it also disrespects the memory of those brutally murdered in cold blood. What we are witnessing is a calculated campaign of ethnic cleansing, an act that bears all the hallmarks of genocide. To suggest otherwise is to deny a grim and painful reality.”

To victims of the Bassa killing, the Governor said: “I want you to know: help is on the way. This afternoon, I held a State Security Council Meeting with all Heads of Security Agencies and consulted widely within and outside the state on how to mitigate this menace once and for all.

“I have already directed hospitals within and outside the locality to take in and treat the victims who sustained injuries. Our priority is to ensure that they receive the best medical care and support, as we also continue to provide relief materials and shelter for the displaced.

“We have activated all security and humanitarian response mechanisms to address the situation in Kwall and Bokkos. I have personally reached out to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has expressed deep concern and assured us of the Federal Government’s full support.

“We are also in constant touch with the Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector General of Police, the National Security Adviser, and other critical stakeholders in the security industry. Troops and other security personnel have been deployed and reinforced in vulnerable communities.

“To the bereaved families of Zike and Kimakpa, and to all affected in Bokkos and beyond, I extend my deepest condolences. I grieve with you. Your pain is our pain. The Plateau State Government has directed all health facilities to provide immediate and comprehensive treatment to the injured at no cost.”

He assured that relief materials, food supplies, and temporary shelters are being provided through our emergency agencies and partners. We are doing everything possible to bring comfort, even in this time of heartbreak. (The Nation)