National President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, has called on the Federal Government to seek support from the United States to tackle the escalating banditry and terrorist attacks ravaging several parts of the country.
Pogu criticised northern governors for allegedly downplaying the severity of the violence, particularly attacks directed at Christian communities, instead of taking firm and coordinated action.
His warning comes amid rising national anxiety over repeated killings and abductions across northern states in recent weeks. Dozens have been reported dead, with many more displaced.
One of the latest incidents occurred on Tuesday at the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, where three people were killed and about 35 others abducted, according to police sources and eyewitnesses.
This attack followed another one barely a day prior in Kebbi State, where bandits invaded the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, killing the Vice Principal, Hassan Makuku, and kidnapping 26 students.
Speaking on Wednesday, the Federal Government, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, linked the renewed wave of attacks to recent comments by the United States.
Akume said President Donald Trump’s posts alleging “Christian genocide” in Nigeria and threatening to deploy US troops had “inadvertently emboldened opportunistic violent groups” now targeting vulnerable communities.
But Pogu, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, insisted that northern governors, not the US, should be blamed for the resurgence of terror.
He argued that although the governors do not directly control the armed forces, they have enough influence over civil defence units and other security formations to improve response times and outcomes.
According to him, instead of acknowledging their failings, some officials have chosen to deny the genocidal nature of the attacks due to fear of US involvement.
Pogu warned that a situation where the US intervenes militarily would have grave consequences.
“The best thing to do is for them to own up that these things are happening and that there is genocide—attacks deliberately against Christian organisations and settlements in their areas. They should plead to the Federal Government to partner with America so that these issues can be resolved.
“The US know where these people are. They have satellites that can even identify you—how you look, where you are going, and your movement. So let the governors not pretend and think that the Americans don’t know,” he said.
He further cautioned governors against using religion to justify imposing their beliefs on others, warning that such actions will only trigger more conflict.
Pogu also criticised Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, for dismissing claims of ethnic genocide in the state. Alia had publicly argued that while insecurity exists, it should not be exaggerated as the targeted extermination of any group.
Pogu disagreed sharply, accusing the governor of prioritising political loyalty over the suffering of his people.
“If Alia, because of serving the interests of some political godfathers and his pocket, can come out and say there is no genocide when hundreds of his people are being killed—and they are Christians, and their churches have been burnt —then I’m sorry for him,” Pogu said.
He added that since Alia is a reverend father, he ought to “change his stance and acknowledge the truth.”
Drawing comparisons, Pogu noted that while Chibok has suffered attacks from Boko Haram, the scale of violence in Benue is far more severe.
“What is happening in Chibok is too small compared to what is happening in Benue. The people who were killed at Yelwata, the majority of them, more than 80 per cent, are Tiv people, and the former governor had to impose the anti-open grazing law to reduce the killing.
“Even when the people were sent to IDP camps, these killers went after them in the camps. And for him as a governor to say there is no genocide, I’m sorry for him,” he said.
