National Security Adviser in the Hot Seat
By Luka Binniyat and Mike James Odeh
(Kaduna) The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), the apex socio-political platform of ethnic nationalities in central Nigeria, on Thursday raised a red flag over what it and 22 civil society organizations (CSOs) describe as a calculated campaign of ethnic cleansing, land occupation, and state-enabled injustice engulfing the Middle Belt region.
Call for Presidential Action Amid Escalating Crisis
The MBF’s warning comes alongside a damning statement by the Civic Coalition Against Mass Atrocities—a broad alliance of peace, justice, and human rights groups—calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act decisively to halt killings, displacements, and land seizures spreading across Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, Borno, Gombe, Adamawa, and recently, Niger and Kwara States.
Narrative War: Lived Realities Vs. Official Denial
At the heart of these coordinated declarations is growing alarm over unchecked violence, what the groups term the “strategic importation” of settlers, and official indifference.
The MBF, led by Dr. Pogu Bitrus, condemned recent remarks by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who during a condolence visit to Benue State, dismissed claims of territorial control by armed groups and likened the crisis to global conflicts.
MBF’s Reaction to NSA Ribadu’s Statement
“What should have been a solemn and empathetic visit was turned into an exercise in dangerous denial,” MBF said. “Ribadu’s comments not only contradict the lived realities of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) but also undermine efforts to seek justice and restore peace.”
The Forum pointed out that large swathes of Benue, Plateau, Southern Kaduna, and parts of Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, and Niger remain under the control of armed Fulani militias who have violently displaced indigenous populations. This reality, MBF noted, is backed by credible local and international reports, and even admissions from state governors like Borno’s Prof. Babagana Zulum.
Civic Coalition Warns of National Implications
The Civic Coalition’s May 14th statement echoes this distress. Describing the violence as a “region-wide campaign of terror, ethnic cleansing, and land appropriation,” the coalition warned that beyond the killings, Nigeria’s democracy, national unity, and food security are at grave risk.
Key Triggers Behind the Crisis
They cited three major triggers of the current crisis:
1. Impending National Census – feared to be manipulated to legitimize land grabs by counting settlers instead of displaced natives.
2. 2027 Elections – which might disenfranchise violently displaced communities.
3. Creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development – seen by some as a policy tilt toward land appropriation for pastoralist use.
Terrorist Expansion and Land Seizures
The coalition highlighted the alarming spread of terrorist activities by groups like Lakurawa and Mahmuda into new states, including Niger and Kwara, noting that over 20,000 square kilometers of land in the Middle Belt have reportedly been overtaken by non-native groups.
A 12-Point National Rescue Plan
The groups issued a 12-point plan, urging Tinubu to launch a comprehensive humanitarian and security response. Key demands include:
A unified security strategy involving Middle Belt governors and the NSA
Return and resettlement of displaced persons
Real-time surveillance using drones and satellites
Reform of the Firearms Act to allow legal self-defense
Establishment of a special Crisis Accountability Bureau to investigate ethnic cleansing crimes
Cultural Erosion and Historical Reversals
One particularly sensitive issue is the cultural erosion occurring under the guise of reform. The coalition called for reversal of past policies, especially in Kaduna, where traditional ethnic properties such as the Adara chiefdom were dissolved and native community names changed—acts they described as “deliberate cultural erasure” and violations of international law.
Concerns Over Blanket Amnesty Being Worked by Abuja
Meanwhile, MBF is also alarmed by the “North Central Workshop on Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration” (DDR) currently holding in Makurdi under the NSA’s office. It fears this could pave the way for blanket amnesty for terrorists while ignoring the rights of victims.
“Last year, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna granted amnesty to ‘repentant’ terrorists in Birnin Gwari,” MBF said. “Yet no justice was extended to the countless victims of their crimes. That model, being replicated now, is unjust and unacceptable.”
Self-Defense or Criminalization?
The MBF is particularly concerned that the workshop and similar initiatives fail to address whether communities who armed themselves with rudimentary weapons for self-defense will now be criminalized.
“Would this not contradict the February 2025 call by the DSS Director General urging communities to act as first responders in their own defense?” the Forum asked.
MBF’s Non-Negotiable Conditions
The MBF insists:
No blanket amnesty for terrorists without justice
Support, not disarmament, for besieged communities
Urgent implementation of state and local policing
Reintegration must follow due process and legislative oversight
Recognition and protection of indigenous land rights, identity, heritage, and food systems
Coalition’s Pledge and Final Call to Action
The coalition—which includes groups such as House of Justice, Gideon & Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, Middle Belt Concern, and Christian Solidarity Worldwide—pledged to share detailed intelligence with the government and collaborate in community-based peacebuilding.
“This is a national emergency,” said a spokesperson. “The government must not continue to normalize violence and injustice. We demand urgent action—anything less is complicity.”
Both MBF and the coalition emphasized that continued silence or denial by national leadership risks fracturing the country beyond repair.
“The NSA must offer leadership that reassures victims—not one that pampers terrorists,” said Dr. Bitrus Pogu, adding:
“Our people are under siege, and the time to act is now.”
