The leadership of the Berom Youth-Moulders Association, BYM, has threatened to file a lawsuit against the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Professor Ayo Omotayo, for allegedly making derogatory comments about the Berom people during a television interview on Friday.

The NIPSS DG had incurred the wrath of the Berom people and indeed a generality of Plateau people when he referred to the Berom ethnic group as “Berom Militias” during the interview following a wave of attacks on the institution in the past few weeks, which has led to the death of about four people, including security personnel.

When asked if the attackers have been identified and apprehended, Omotayo responded that, though the real identity of the attackers has yet to be unveiled by security agencies, youths masking as “Berom Militias” have been staging attacks on the institution to demand compensation for the use of their land.

The remarks not only cause widespread anger in the state, with many citizens taking to social media to demand an apology and removal of the DG.

However, the BYM, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, not only called for the immediate withdrawal of the derogatory remark, but a full apology from Omotayo or the association would institute a lawsuit against him.

In the statement titled “A call for the immediate withdrawal of derogatory reference to Berom people as Berom Militia”, the organization described the remarks by the NIPSS as an unfortunate ethnic profiling which should not come from such a professional.

“The attention of the Berom Nation has been drawn to the unfortunate public statement credited to the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), wherein the Berom people were collectively described as ‘Berom Militia’.

“This characterization is not only false, reckless, and misleading, but also constitutes a grave injustice against an entire ethnic nationality that has, over the years, remained committed to lawful coexistence, peacebuilding, and the unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria despite enduring repeated attacks, displacement, and unimaginable losses.

Words spoken by the head of a foremost national policy institution carry enormous weight. Such statements shape public opinion, influence government policies, guide security perceptions, and ultimately affect how a people are viewed both nationally and internationally.

“Consequently, labeling an entire ethnic group as a ‘militia’ is not merely a matter of semantics; it is a dangerous misrepresentation with profound legal, social, political, and security implications.

“To describe the Berom people as a militia unjustly criminalizes an entire ethnic nationality, stigmatizes innocent citizens, and exposes law-abiding Berom men, women, and youths to suspicion, profiling, discrimination, and possible persecution. Such a narrative also risks legitimizing aggression against our communities while diverting attention from the genuine security challenges that have plagued our ancestral lands for many years.

The Berom Nation is a peace-loving people with a rich cultural heritage, recognized traditional institutions, and countless sons and daughters serving Nigeria with distinction in government, the armed forces, academia, business, the judiciary, and other sectors. It is therefore unacceptable that an entire people should be branded with a designation commonly associated with illegal armed groups.

“National leaders, especially those occupying strategic public offices, have a moral and constitutional responsibility to promote national cohesion through balanced, objective, and evidence-based public communication. Statements capable of inflaming ethnic tensions or reinforcing harmful stereotypes must be avoided in the interest of justice, peace, and national unity.

“Accordingly, we respectfully but firmly demand the following: An immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the statement referring to the Berom people as ‘Berom Militia’.

“A public apology to the Berom Nation for the inaccurate and damaging characterization. A clarification affirming that the Berom ethnic nationality should not be associated with any criminal or militia designation.

“Failure to meet these demands will leave us with no option but to seek redress in a law court,” the group added.