Veteran journalist and political commentator Laolu Akande has raised alarm over what he described as a “clear pattern of genocide” in central Nigeria, particularly in Plateau State, where he said dozens of communities have been violently taken over by armed intruders.
Speaking during the “My Take” segment of his weekly program Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels TV, the former presidential aide delivered a passionate condemnation of the ongoing attacks, describing them as part of a systematic campaign to seize ancestral lands from local communities.
“Now I come back to the main issue, the recent killings in central Nigeria, where there is now a clear pattern of genocide going on with the intent of taking over people’s land and property and community,” Akande said.
He cited records indicating that in Plateau State alone, over 60 communities have been attacked and forcefully occupied after residents were killed or displaced. “In this country, that is happening. And this is not just new at all,” he noted.
Akande stressed the need for collective national outrage and civic resistance to what he called the “recurrent nature of genocide.”
“What is critical now is that all of us Nigerians must raise our voices before this recurrent nature of genocide. If we don’t keep raising our voices in outrage and condemnation of these genocidal killings and violent occupation of people’s land, we will get used to it. And it will condition us to accept the callousness that is involved in all of it.”
In a somber tribute, Akande read the names of 51 people recently killed during a night attack on Zikei Kwali District in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State. The victims, ranging from toddlers to nonagenarians, were said to have been killed between 12 midnight and 1:30 a.m. on April 14.
“To that end, I will today read out the names of some of those who were recently slaughtered in their very own homes and communities. 51 of them. These are innocent people who, like all of us, have families, they have relatives, they have friends, and they had aspirations. They had hopes. They enjoyed good food. They loved. And they were loved. But their lives were violently terminated,” he said.
Quoting Business Day newspaper and the Irigwe Youth Movement, Akande listed each of the victims by name and age:
1. Dako, 49 years
2. Ruben Adamu, 94 years
3. Dogara Adamu, 69 years
4. Gulus Moses, 26 years
5. Stephen John, 28 years
6. Menche Stephen, 7 years
7. Nema Stephen, 4 years
8. Mary Stephen, 24 years
9. Wiki John, 30 years
10. Joshua John Bogu, 46 years
11. Margaret Morris, 6 years
12. Debene Morris, 4 years
13. Monday Sali, 52 years
14. Salama Agah, 15 years
15. Laraba Agag, 4 years
16. Talatu Mangwa, 42 years
17. Grace David, 45 years
18. Lovina Monday, 19 years
19. Agah Monday, 4 years
20. Naomi Monday, 37 years
21. Noel David, 30 years
22. Jumai Steven, 10 years
23. Monday Keyi, 37 years
24. Jerry Moses, 7 years
25. James Moses, 10 years
26. Jacob Moses, 3 years
27. Danjuma Gado, 38 years
28. Friday Moses, 14 years
29. Talatu Moses, 47 years
30. Akus Moses, 46 years
31. Azi Jerry, 58 years
32. Tele Zea, 29 years
33. Bre Nazhwa, 61 years
34. Nazhwa Ive, 5 years
35. Kaja Daniel, 42 years
36. Elisha Anthony, 37 years
37. Anna Anthony, 67 years
38. Danlami Randum Gula, 49 years
39. Ado Danjuma, 17 years
40. Sarah Kula, 16 years
41. Ishaya Moses, 10 years
42. Juan Moses, 5 years
43. Sunday Mangwa, 25 years
44. Moses Bala, 43 years
45. Maureen Ishaku, 32 years
46. Blessing Jerry, 13 years
47. Lami Bala, 50 years
48. Yohanna Agyo, 21 years
49. Amos Sunday, 11 years
50. Salome Jerry, 27 years
51. Duniya Yakubu, 8 years
“They are real people. They are not just numbers. You will find men, women, and children. You will discover that there were very old people killed and there were very young ones also massacred mercilessly.”
Akande concluded the segment with a solemn prayer: “May the innocent souls and the souls of all innocent people ever butchered in Nigeria rest in peace. And there you have it, inside sources to be right back.”
