Plateau Killings: VDM, Mr Macaroni, others tackle Tinubu over insecurity

Nigerian celebrities, including activist Martins “Verydarkblackman (VDM)” Otse, actor and comedian Adebowale “Mr Macaroni” Adedayo, and the Senior Pastor and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, Johnson Suleman, among others, have reacted to Sunday’s deadly attack in Plateau State.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that gunmen attacked the Gari Ya Waye community in Angwan Rukuba, killing an unconfirmed number of residents and leaving several others injured.

In separate posts on their social media platforms, the celebrities condemned the killings, describing them as yet another example of “worsening insecurity.” 

They also criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, accusing it of persistent security failures and a lack of accountability.

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VDM, who visited the scene and posted footage on his Instagram page, expressed outrage over the incident. 

He particularly faulted the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, accusing him of neglecting his responsibilities while Nigerians continued to lose their lives to violent attacks.

He said: “The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, I was surprised when you left your duty to secure lives and property, and you were busy campaigning. I saw you wearing an APC cap. Is that your role? Is that the role of the minister? The Minister of Defence, who is supposed to be strategising to protect people’s lives, is campaigning. I’ve never seen that in my life. 

“Today, since this thing happened, they will do the usual thing. They will send the army and the police to make you feel safe, but after a few weeks, they will leave. And these people will come back again. I overheard the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, saying that bandits, Boko Haram, are also part of Nigerians. People who are killing Nigerians every day! Without remorse! Instead of protecting us against them, you are giving them amnesty. You are saying you want to rehabilitate killers.”

Defend yourself 

VDM maintained that terrorists had wiped out entire families and generations, yet the government still considered it appropriate to rehabilitate them.

He added that while these attackers continued to drive people from their ancestral homes, Mr Tinubu, who should have shown empathy for the victims, was instead focused on campaigning for his re-election in 2027.

“Since we don’t want this to be political, but at the end of the day, what are they doing? I’m telling you, the people of Angwan Rukuba: if you don’t stand up for yourself, it is about that time. If you can gather anything, I know if I say this now, they’ll say I am encouraging violence. But to protect yourself, violence is the only way. I am telling you, if you can get knives, if you can get hunters’ guns, if you can get anything to protect your land. 

“Don’t listen to the government that they will come and help you. They will not! Anybody you see that is not from here, anybody that looks suspicious before they get you down, get them down! Listen to me! If you keep quiet and wait for the government, Jos, this wasn’t the first time it had happened. Not the second time, the third time, the fourth time, the fifth or the sixth. We have lost count”, said VDM.

When will it stop?

The activist further stated that the killings in Plateau had persisted for over fifteen years without any meaningful intervention.

He questioned Mr Tinubu and his administration, asking when the continued loss of innocent Nigerian lives would finally come to an end.

VDM noted, “Tinubu, when will it stop? You promised us security, but nobody is secure. It is so sad. A pregnant woman on the ground. She is dead with her child.  These are people’s brothers. These are people’s sisters. We say no! 

“The people of Angwan Rukuba, it is not just about talking, strategise within yourself, it’s not only Boko Haram that can kill. We can kill as well. Protect yourself.”

Failed leadership

Furthermore, Mr Suleman said in a statement posted on his X page that the attack further underscored what he described as a “failure of leadership.”

The 55-year-old added that Nigeria’s leaders had continued to prioritise politics over protecting lives.

“Choosing rather to waste our collective patrimony in pre-election jamboree and pre-coronation plans. Posterity will judge a leadership that now emboldens, enables and replicates what it once vehemently condemned. I believe in the power of prayers, but prayers won’t replace responsibility. We need humane leaders. These current folks have zero affiliation with empathy. We are tired. 

“It’s depressingly exhausting. We stand with the families who lost loved ones and pray for fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. And for those who will engage this tweet to support failed leadership for the crumbs they offer you, pls show your irritation via good grammar. So even if I am irritated by your intentional delusion, I would be encouraged by your mastery of words.”

Useless government

Meanwhile, Mr Macaroni took to his X page to deliver a scathing assessment of the administration.

He described Mr Tinubu’s government as the most ineffective he had ever seen.

He argued that the President and his team had shown no sense of accountability or responsibility in their governance.

“President Bola Tinubu is running the Most Useless Government in the history of Useless Governments!!! How many more Nigerians have to die due to this abysmal level of incompetence? Nigerians wake up every day to lament one tragedy or another.  Unbearably heart-wrenching!!! 

“Zero Accountability, Zero Responsibility!!! I cannot for the life of me understand how 40 Nigerians have been confirmed dead in Jos and the President of the Country does not deem it necessary to address the people!! We are talking about 40 Human beings”, he wrote.

For rapper Panshak “Ice Prince” Zamani, who hails from the state, the people have repeatedly endured attacks and violence at the hands of terrorists and armed killers.

He wrote on his X page, “Since 2001, Jos Jos Jos. My people have suffered too much tbh. Thoughts and Prayers.”

God’s intervention 

However, the founder and Lead Pastor of Streams of Joy International, Jerry Eze, who also convenes the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations (NSPPD), an online prayer platform streamed on YouTube, called for divine intervention.

“Jesus, our saviour! The Mercy of El-Roi has Prevailed !! May the Wickedness of the Wicked perish with them”, he wrote on his X page. 

Furthermore, gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey declared on his X page that the state would remain unbroken.

“The forces of evil in our nation shall never prevail. We shall see their end. It is well with you Jos, We see you! Let there be light.”

Backstory 

Following the attack, this newspaper reported that State Governor Caleb Mutfwang pledged to bring those responsible for the deadly incident to justice. 

He described the attack as “heinous” and met with grieving families during his visit.

The governor assured residents that the state government would not allow the killings to go unpunished. 

He also announced that the state would cover medical expenses for the injured and provide what he described as dignified burials for the victims.