Berom Man condemns five youths caught manufacturing weapons says act same as terrorism
By: Zagazola Makama
A Berom man has condemned the alleged arrest of five youths reportedly caught manufacturing firearms, describing the act as terrorism and urging communities to refrain from supporting unlawful armed activities.
He made the remarks in a two-minute video circulating online.
He said the arrested youths were allegedly found manufacturing guns and assembling ammunition on their own, adding that such actions should not be justified under the guise of community protection.
According to him, any claim of self-defence by individuals or groups must be known to community leaders and relevant government authorities, rather than being carried out secretly by a few persons stockpiling weapons.
He argued that the development amounted to terrorism and should be treated as such, insisting that the youths involved must be properly investigated to determine who they were producing the weapons for and how they were being used.
The speaker also cautioned against ethnic interpretations of the incident, noting that criminal acts should not be defended on communal or religious grounds.
He further urged members of the Berom community and other groups to openly condemn the act, warning that protests or calls for the release of suspects could be seen as complicity.
He stressed the need for full legal action against those involved, adding that communities must avoid creating what he described as “another armed group in the name of fighting insecurity.”
Below is the full transcription of his statement:
This pictures you are seeing are pictures of five Berom Youths that were apprehended Yesterday manufacturing guns. This is another level of terrorism that i have been talking about. Another different level of terrorism.
They have now learnt how to assemble ammunitions by themselves. I will come out and say it. Because i swear nobody sent them. In the other video that i made i said if you say that you are getting weapons to protect your community, the community head should know. The government should know not a few individuals will just start to stockpile arms and then you will say that you are protecting your community. No, this is Terrorism. This people are terrorists and there are no two ways about it. Now you see, they have now started Calling them Berom terrorists. One berom man will be angry sincerely speaking i am Berom too. But i must tell you, you shouldnt be angry because you are being reffered to as Berom terrorist, you should be angry because these are your children caught in this act. You have no right to be angry that they are calling Berom terrorists, Berom Militia. This types of attitude. We have been telling you to speak to these children, stop the revenge attacks, we told you tp tell these children to stop doing things that would get them into the net of the authorities like this. Because when they get caught, they will be used as an example. Now these thing will be flying all over the world just to prove that the Berom people too are diong terrorism. If any one comes out now to say that the people pf Berom are terrorists will you say that they are not terrorists? Will you say you dont engage in terrorism. Because definitely thats is what they are diong ethnic profiling, we did it too. We are also coming out to say Fulani Militia. Why are we saying it because of what they are diong. Now our children are also being caught. If we know what is better for us be it a Muslim be it a Christian, it is better for us to come out to add our voice and tell the world that what the children are diong is bad. Because the truth is it is not right. And now that they have been caught like this, i am begging you because of God not to hear that our people have come out for protest because it will be very shameful. It will show that you have a hand in this. Any one who come out to protest, anyone who speak that they should be released or do any other i swear he is complicit too in the crimes and he should be arrested and also add him into their team and asked them since when did you sterted producing weapons. Who are they manufacturing them for, what are they being used for. There should be serious interohation and they should face the full wrath of the law. All of them, they have no excuse what so ever. When they come out you will say because they are being terrorized so we are being terrorized, so then you will then start making gunz without anybody monitoring you. It is an act of terrorism and i hope that this thing will stop and i hope and pray that people will come out and call this out and i keep saying we cannot create another terrorist organization in order to fight terrorism. And you see as a Christian or a som of berom, if you dont come out and condemned this if they continue like this as time goes on we are going to be the victims of this stupidity.”
