A group by the name Revolutionary Socialist Movement, (RSM) has upbraided President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) for allegedly emboldening the perpetrators of killings across the country who it noted operate with impunity while the federal government failed to take decisive action.
The RSM also accused the federal government of giving tacit support to the killers through policies that worsen these conflicts, such as promoting cattle ranches against the wishes of local communities.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that no fewer than 250 persons had been callously murdered in some northern states, namely Plateau, Benue, Borno and Zamfara, among others in the past two weeks.
Castigating the government for these mass killings, the RSM specifically highlighted the relentless wave of violence by armed herdsmen in Benue and Plateau States, where hundreds have been killed and thousands displaced in recent weeks.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Salako Kayode, RSM bemoaned what it described as “the systemic ethnic cleansing and land grabs” being carried out by armed groups under the watch of a government that, it says, has become complicit through inaction.
“The assaults have claimed hundreds of lives, destroyed entire communities, and displaced thousands of innocent people,” the group stated.
“These acts of violence are a stark manifestation of the failure of the capitalist state to protect its citizens and address the root causes of conflict.”
RSM cited the recent massacre in Otukpo, Benue State, where at least 11 people were killed and homes were razed, as well as escalating violence in Plateau State, which has reportedly claimed over 150 lives within a fortnight.
These tragedies, the group asserted, are being met with silence or token responses from the federal government and security agencies.
“Despite repeated calls for justice, the perpetrators operate with impunity, emboldened by the absence of decisive action and the federal government’s tacit support for policies that worsen these conflicts, such as promoting cattle ranches against the wishes of local communities,” the statement read.
The movement expressed solidarity with the victims, particularly farmers, women, children, and the elderly who have been disproportionately affected by the violence, which also includes widespread destruction of farmland and property.
RSM linked the violence to broader systemic issues, including environmental degradation, unregulated land use, and socio-economic inequalities.
It criticised the government for failing to mediate conflicts between nomadic herders and settled farmers, accusing it of exploiting religious and ethnic divisions to maintain political control.
In response to the deepening crisis, the RSM made demands aimed at addressing both immediate security concerns and long-term structural inequalities.
The group called for the formation of democratically run, community-based workers’ and farmers’ militias for self-defense in the face of state failure.
It advocated for the nationalisation and equitable distribution of land, with state-managed grazing reserves to mitigate disputes.
The RSM urged urgent action by security agencies to disarm violent herdsmen and prosecute offenders.
The RSM said it supported the creation of a regional commission for reconstruction, to be controlled by elected representatives from affected communities, rather than political appointees.
Citing the need for collective action, RSM encouraged the people to organise protests and strikes to demand justice and structural change.
The group also called on international human rights organisations and local civil society groups to investigate what it described as “acts of ethnic cleansing” and to hold the Nigerian government accountable.
“The RSM calls on the working people of Nigeria to unite against the divisive tactics of the ruling class and reject the capitalist system that perpetuates inequality and violence,” the group declared.
The group called for “Struggle! Solidarity!! Socialism!!!”
As Nigeria grapples with mounting insecurity and the federal government faces increasing criticism, the demands from RSM add to growing calls for a fundamental rethink of the country’s security architecture and socio-economic policies.