Dakum: Fulani militia killing with ease, unchallenged in Plateau State

A legal practitioner, Chief Bala Dakum, Esq., the principal partner of B. I. Dakum & Co based in Abuja, has decried what he described as “unabated killings”, in two Local Government Areas in Plateau State, Nigeria.

Chief Dakum made the remarks in a short essay he personally made available to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), dated April 2, 2025, and entitled “Unabated killings in Bokkos and Mangu“.

Dakum noted that the heinous murders were carried out by men suspected to be of the Fulani militia stock.

He further regretted that the Federal Government appears to be sleeping over the matter and the people abandoned to their fates.

He wrote: “Few days ago over 10 mourners were gruesomely murdered in Ruwi Village of Bokkos Local Government in Plateau State by suspected Fulani Militias and the Federal Government went to sleep over the matter.

“Bokkos Local Government as a whole and part of Mangu Local Governments have been under siege for about one and half years.

“The State Government has put in so much but insufficient efforts to curb the menace.

“However, the Federal Government seems to have abandoned the people to their fates.”

According to him, almost every week a farmer is either killed in his farm or innocent civilians are attacked and killed in their homes or kidnapped.

The local residents, who are predominantly farmers, have consequently abandoned their ancestral villages and farms and fled to the towns and cities.

Marauding Fulani herdsmen go about… brazenly ~ Dakum

Dakum lamented that the marauding Fulani herdsmen go about grazing brazenly on people’s farms/crops.

They also threaten anyone who dares to challenge them from damaging crops in their respective farms.

He wrote further that “the kidnappers keep abducting the poor masses”, besides destroying their means of livelihood.

The Abuja-based lawyer noted that ransoms are paid before they are released or even killed after ransoms are paid.

Worse yet, “ransoms are negotiated using phone calls but the security agencies seem to be helpless,” he wailed.

… not the kind of state of emergency declared in Rivers

Decrying Federal Government’s helplessness, he stated: “Farming season is fast approaching, and no concrete efforts are put in place to address the security issue.

“It appears the Federal Government is selective in addressing security issues in this country.

“Meanwhile, I won’t support illegal declaration of state of emergency as is the case in Rivers State where the president made it clear in a pyrrhic effort to justify the declaration of a state of emergency that “no serious president will fold his hands and watch a state degenerate into chaos”.

“May I remind Mr.  President that what happened in Rivers State cannot be compared to the security situation in Bokkos and Mangu where hundreds of people have been killed since December 2023.

“The president is yet to take any decisive action.

“Our people deserve the same attention Rivers State got (but not the kind of state of emergency declared in Rivers).

“Our people do not want to die, they want to return to their ancestral villages, cultivate their farmlands, rebuild their mud houses and sleep with their two eyes closed just like Mr. president sleeps in the comfort of his mansion(s).”

Earlier, in November 27, 2024, Dakum recalled how his father became a victim of the Fulani marauders.

How Fulani militants killed Chief Dakum

In what could pass as a dirge he delivered to DDM, Dakum wrote:

“My Dad, Deh Idi Dakum, was the Galadima Nyam in Tangur the District of Bokkos LGA Plateau State. He was about 85 years old.
“On 18th November 2024, he was kidnapped at about 7pm in our village (Matelem). His phone and that of my mother were taken away.
“Unknown to us that the abductors had killed him just about a kilometer away from the house that same day, my brother Moses kept calling his phone.
“He eventually established contact with his abductors on 19th November 2024.

The game changer

“The abductors demanded for ransom and we paid same on 20th November, 2024.
“Prior to paying the ransom, my brother (Moses) whom the family mandated to speak with them requested to speak with my Dad but they claimed they left him with some of their men close to the village but they went back to a place close to Daffo (also within Bokkos LGA).
“When my brother paid the ransom, they assured him they’ll communicate their gang whom they claimed my dad was in their custody to drop him close to the village.
“My brother left with hopes that my dad will return before day break but to no avail.
“On 21 he called the abductors and they assured him that they’ll release him.
“My dad did not return on 21st November, 2024 On 22nd November, 2024 my brother called again, but could not reach the abductors.
“On 23rd November 2024, my brother called the abductors again, but this time, the abductor was hostile and asked my brother if he’s taking him cheap.
“He said the ransom paid was inadequate and demanded for more money but we didn’t pay any ransom again because at this time we began to suspect that they were not being honest.

Killed before the ransom

“However, few hours later, at about 9am my Dad’s death body was found in a farm just about a kilometer away from the house where he was abducted.
“From the state of the body, he had been there for days.
“The body was buried immediately on 23rd November, 2024 in Matelem village, in the presence of the District Head (Deh Sati Nder), the Bokkos LGA chairman (Hon Amalau), and members of the STF who are also stationed about a kilometer away from the house.
“We communicated with the CP Plateau Command and he sent the DPO to the house who came and condoled us.
“He assessed the area and he promised to report back to the CP for immediate action.
“Matelem Village which was earlier attacked by the Fulani’s in February 2024, is at the border and there’s a large expanse of forest which is about 100 kilometers.
“The forest makes the village open to attack and there are no adequate security covering the community knowing that the same community is porous.
“The district head is yet to come out with any security plans to protect the area.
“The people of Matelem village who are basically farmers now live at the mercy of the Fulanis who can come in any time, attack and escape into the forest.
“Also as a result of this, many people are relocating from the community in fear.
“My father was the pillar that and the beacon of hope for the village but his demise left everyone in that community in abject fear of being attacked any moment,” the “dirge” concluded.

Previous encounter with Chief Dakum

He said Deh Idi Dakum had been earlier kidnapped in February 2023, that the later incident was the second and the fatal.

DDM contacted the Police Public Relations Officer of Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, for his input respecting what the Plateau State Government and the Nigeria Police Force are doing to stem the tide of unabated killings in the two most affected Local Governments.

DSP Alabo, however, has yet to respond as at the time of this publication.

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