By Mustapha Gembu
Here is late Major General Idris Alkali (Rtd.), who was killed on 3 September 2018 at Dura-Du District, Jos South LGA, while on his way from Abuja to Bauchi. His remains were later recovered on 31 October 2018 at Guchwet, Shen District, Jos South LGA.
The only crime committed by late General Idris Alkali was being a Muslim. The unceasing targeting and killings of indigenous Fulani pastoralists in Plateau State by the Berom militias and their cohorts are also for the crime of being Muslims.
For those who always say the Berom killers are acting in self-defence, they can’t tell us whether late General Alkali was on his way to launch attacks on Berom’s communities.
The sympathisers of the Berom Christian killers who use cattle grazing on farm lands as justifications of Killings the Fulani Pastoralists can’t also tell us whether late General Idris Alkali was grazing his cattle on their farms.
Likewise, the sympathisers of the Berom Christian killers, who describe the Fulani as land grabbers or invaders, can’t tell us whether late General Idris Alkali was heading to Jos for land grabbing and invasion.
The sympathisers of the Berom Christian killers, who describe Fulani pastoralists protecting their livestock as Jihadists, can’t tell us whether late General Idris Alkali and the many Muslim travellers killed within Jos were Islamic Jihadists seeking territorial conquest.
For those who don’t know, the reasons behind the continuous twisting of reprisals from provoked Fulani pastoralists into killings of Christians, or what others call Christian genocide, are all geared towards covering up the mission of killing Muslims across Plateau State by Christian tribal militias, as well as attracting cheap sympathy, cheap attention and donations to continue feeding on the blood money of innocent people being killed.
Mind you, if the Berom militias could target and kill late General Idris Alkali, a retired senior military officer, and many travellers passing through Jos City for the only crime of being Muslims, they can continue to kill Muslims while using vague expressions such as acting in self-defence, resisting Islamic Jihadists, stopping land grabbers or invaders, as they call them.
They can also continue to twist reprisals attacks from provoked communities into killings of Christians or what others call Christian genocide.
Meanwhile, people like Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, a.k.a. the self-confessed armed robber, and other pastors who specialise in spreading fabricated lies, propaganda and narratives of the killing of Christians, can continue pushing such claims, while the reality remains that the violence involves tit-for-tat attacks.
MY MESSAGE TO THE PERPETRATORS, THEIR COLLABORATORS AND SYMPATHISERS
My message to those involved in violence, their collaborators and sympathisers is simple: No amount of media campaigns, attempts to manipulate narratives, appeals to Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu or other international personalities will bring lasting peace to Plateau State.
Neither will the continuous justification of violence or the selective presentation of victims restore peace. Those responsible for criminal acts must face the full weight of the law, irrespective of their ethnic, religious or political affiliations.
Lasting peace in Plateau State will remain elusive until all communities learn to coexist peacefully, respect one another’s rights and recognise the legitimate place of every indigenous community.
The Fulani and Muslims are also indigenous inhabitants of Plateau State and deserve the same constitutional rights, dignity, protection and recognition as every other citizen.
Peace cannot be achieved through selective justice, collective accusations or the continuous denial of another community’s identity and rights.
Plateau State belongs to all its indigenous communities. No group should be made to feel like a stranger in its ancestral home.
