Nigerians from different backgrounds have expressed anger over what they call government inaction in the face of repeated violence and destruction in Plateau State. They said the poor are left to suffer displacement and homelessness. Many pointed out that Nigeria already has a huge housing shortage, and the burning of houses in crisis areas is only making the problem worse.
Dr. Malachy Ojukoba, a building materials trader in Lagos, condemned the burning of more than 30 houses and the displacement of over 300 people. He said the government’s failure to respond has worsened the suffering of victims, most of whom are among the poorest in society.
“Nigerian governments do not have a culture of maintenance. After a house is burnt, the occupants — usually the lower class — are left to suffer the trauma,” Ojukoba said.
He also argued that poor crisis management by authorities is forcing more people into desperation.
“I think the way the government handles public crises is pushing citizens towards crime as a means of survival. If you try to live honestly, the government’s attitude makes life harder. Meanwhile, those who made it through crime are allowed to maltreat you and treat you as second-class citizens in your own country. This is unacceptable,” he said angrily.
The latest incident in Plateau State happened in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area, where gunmen attacked communities, leaving over 300 people displaced and more than 30 houses destroyed. Although no lives were lost, the attacks heavily affected farmers as barns and farmlands were burnt.
Witnesses said the attack may have been reprisals following the killing of four herders and the injury of one in Fili village, Doemak District, about a week earlier. The herders were reportedly attacked while grazing their animals.
Confirming the attack, the spokesman of Qua’an Pan Local Government Council, Danaan Cletus Sylvanus, said the council chairman, Christopher Manship, had visited the affected communities. He listed Nteng, Doop, Zhep Morop, Gyeergu, Kelaghan, Loon, Kwakii, and Gorom in Doemak District as among the hardest hit.
Sylvanus said the chairman had called a meeting of stakeholders and urged for calm and vigilance.
“The chairman of Qua’an Pan LGA, Christopher Manship, lamented the attacks and urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community groups to work with him to find a lasting solution. Security agencies have been mobilized to the affected areas to bring the situation under control. We are working hard to restore peace and normalcy,” Sylvanus said in a statement.
He added that Manship has met with religious and traditional leaders to stress the importance of peaceful coexistence, regardless of ethnic or religious differences. Security forces have since been deployed to maintain order in the affected areas.
