By Steven Kefas
(Jos) BREAKING: A new wave of violence is brewing in Nigeria’s volatile Plateau State, according to TruthNigeria intelligence reports indicating that Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) fighters are positioning themselves for large-scale, coordinated attacks across multiple communities, raising fears of an impending humanitarian crisis in the State.
The May 4 killing of three Berom natives in Gashish, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area—including a 6-month-old infant—appears to be just the opening salvo in what security analysts believe could become a devastating campaign targeting Christian farming communities throughout the state.
“This singular act on the already devastated few returnees of Gashish, who have not yet come out of the agony of the 2018 and 2023 Christmas-Eve genocides that claimed over 230 people, constitutes an enormous threat to not only Kakuruk village but also other nearby villages,” warned the Berom Youth Moulder-Association (BYM) in a press release.
According to intelligence gathered by the BYM, militant fighters have been strategically transported from neighboring Bauchi, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states into Plateau, where they’ve established operational bases in at least seven locations across four local government areas—Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Bokkos local government areas.
These movements align with the deployment of approximately 50 Lakurawa fighters to Plateau State in late 2024, according to Jos-based security analyst Garus Abednago speaking to TruthNigeria. This development went largely unnoticed by local and international media.
“What we’re witnessing is a calculated effort to provide specialized training to fighters mobilized from different parts of the country,” Abednago explained. “All evidence points toward preparation for a massive, coordinated attack on predominantly Christian communities throughout Plateau State. The recent small-scale violence serves a dual purpose: testing security responses and intimidating villagers who might otherwise resist land-grabbing efforts.” Abednago says.
The situation has resonance for American observers familiar with counter-insurgency operations, as it demonstrates how terrorist groups adapt when faced with pressure in one region by shifting operations to less-defended areas — a pattern seen in conflicts worldwide, according to Akason Samuel, a retired mobile police officer based in Kaduna speaking to TruthNigeria
Dr. Walid Abdullahi, an expert on terrorism in the Sahel region, emphasized the strategic importance of Plateau State to militant groups expanding their territorial control.
“Terrorist groups are expanding their reach across the country, and Plateau is a strategic state for them, considering it borders Taraba in the Northeast, Benue, Nasarawa, and Kaduna state,” he explained. “Remember we talked about the movement of Lakurawa fighters towards Plateau in November last year. While it seems the military has decimated the capacity of the bandits in the Northwest, the terrorists are ahead in their plans, which is why you now hear of mass attacks in Plateau and Benue state.”
For Nigerians living in the affected communities, the most troubling aspect is the apparent inability—or unwillingness—of military forces to intervene effectively, despite significant deployment in the region.
The 3rd Division of the Nigerian Army, a major installation housing over 5,000 soldiers, sits just three miles from villages that have experienced devastating attacks. On April 14, 2025, militants murdered 54 Christians, including 18 children, in the villages of Zike and Kimakpa in Bassa county, Northwest of Jos, the state capital.
Dare Silas, who survived the attack on Zike, expressed the community’s frustration to TruthNigeria: “If the military wanted to intervene, they could have done so within minutes when the attack on Zike started, but they never showed up until after the attackers had gone and the damages were done.”
This pattern of security forces failing to protect vulnerable communities despite proximity to military installations has fueled conspiracy theories among residents, who question whether political or ethnic considerations might be influencing response priorities.
BYM’s intelligence report specifically identified seven locations where militants have allegedly established operational bases:
1. Gana-Daji and Dorowa Babuje in Ropp District, Barkin Ladi LGA
2. Tenti and Gindi-Akwati (Exland) in Gashish District, Barkin Ladi LGA
3. Bisichi of Foron District, Barkin Ladi LGA
4. Kuba of Butura District, Bokkos LGA
5. Rankum (Mahanga) of Jol, Riyom LGA
These areas reportedly serve as staging grounds for fighters preparing to “unleash simultaneous terror attacks” while engaging in “forceful grazing of a few cows by an unusually large number of herders, kidnapping, and so on.”
The situation represents a critical test for the Nigerian security forces, particularly given the international attention on religious violence in the country. For American policymakers, the evolving crisis highlights the complex interplay between resource competition, religious tensions, and security governance that continues to challenge stability in Africa’s most populous nation.
BYM National President Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri has called on security agencies to “invoke a kinetic approach maximally to neutralize the potential danger” and “avert another round of impending genocide on the Plateau.”
Despite their frustrations, the youth organization expressed qualified support for security forces, acknowledging that recent responses have “saved many lives.” On the other hand, that claim was refuted by resident Dare Silas following the Zike attacks on April 14.
As international observers watch developments in Plateau State, the coming weeks could prove decisive in determining whether Nigerian security forces can disrupt the apparent plans for coordinated attacks, or whether communities already traumatized by decades of violence will face yet another devastating chapter of bloodshed and displacement.
Steven Kefas is a freelance conflict and terrorism reporter for TruthNigeria.
