Experts Warn of Escalating Violence as Survivors Demand International Attention
By Segun Onibiyo
Jos, Nigeria — A prominent cattle herders’ organization in Nigeria, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), is under fire after declaring that violent attacks in central Nigeria “will continue” unless their grievances are addressed. The statement, widely shared on social media and confirmed by multiple sources, has sparked alarm among communities, human rights advocates, and international observers.
The group’s national secretary, Bello Gotomo, issued the warning following MACBAN’s executive meeting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. He blamed “injustice against herders,” climate-driven migration, and lax law enforcement for the ongoing crisis. “We will not fold our hands while our people are killed and our cattle rustled,” he said. “These killings will continue until justice is done.”
Where is Plateau, and Why Does It Matter?
Plateau State is located in Nigeria’s “Middle Belt,” a region roughly in the center of the country that separates the predominantly Muslim north from the mostly Christian south. Plateau is home to a majority-Christian population of farmers, while nomadic herders, largely of the Fulani ethnic group, move seasonally through the region in search of pasture. The state capital, Jos, lies about 180 miles northeast of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
This area has long been a flashpoint of deadly violence between farming communities and herders, a conflict worsened in recent years by religious tensions, land scarcity, and the proliferation of illegal weapons.
A Chilling Admission Amid Mounting Casualties
MACBAN’s statement has drawn fierce condemnation, especially in Plateau where communities have endured waves of violence. Between December 2023 and April 2025, more than 200 people were killed in coordinated attacks across Bokkos, Mangu, and Barkin Ladi—three rural local government areas in Plateau. Many survivors say the attackers, often dressed in military-style clothing and riding motorcycles, strike at night and shout Islamic slogans as they torch homes.
Plateau’s Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, made headlines last year when he accused Nigerian troops of standing by as villages were attacked. “The military watched while our people were slaughtered,” he told national media.
Experts: Statement Could Fuel More Violence
Counterterrorism analyst Dr. Kabiru Adamu warned that MACBAN’s statement could embolden more militant groups. “When a mainstream group appears to justify or threaten continued violence, it sends a dangerous signal,” he told TruthNigeria. “Extremists may interpret it as a green light.”
Former Nigerian Human Rights Commission chair, Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, called the remarks “an alarming admission of state failure.” In a text message, he added, “Communities are arming themselves because they do not trust the government to protect them.”
Calls for U.S. and U.N. Action
In neighboring Nasarawa State—just west of Plateau—retired Nigerian Army general and Christian evangelist, Ambos Dak, called on the U.S. government and the United Nations to intervene. “Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt have endured enough massacres,” Dak said by phone. “If the federal government cannot stop these targeted killings, the international community must act before this becomes another Darfur.”
A Long and Bloody History
The farmer-herder conflict in Plateau dates back decades but has worsened since the early 2000s. Once limited to disputes over grazing routes and farmland, the violence has grown into what many describe as ethnic cleansing, often targeting Christian farming villages. Human rights groups estimate that over 20,000 people have been killed nationwide in similar clashes since 2001.
TruthNigeria has documented repeated survivor testimonies, pointing to patterns of late-night attacks, delayed security response, and military-grade firepower. Local leaders say their pleas for protection often go unanswered. https://truthnigeria.com/survivors-recount-night-of-terror-in-plateau-villages/
Communities Take Up Arms
Amid the absence of justice or government accountability, many communities in Plateau are forming their own defense units. “People will defend themselves if the state cannot,” said a youth leader in Bokkos. “We have buried enough of our own.”
Civil society groups are calling for MACBAN to be investigated for inciting terrorism. “If a group says killings will continue, that’s a confession,” said Peter Mark, a human rights activist in southern Nigeria. “The government’s silence is dangerous.”
A Dangerous Future
Analysts say Nigeria’s security forces, already stretched thin fighting Boko Haram and ISWAP militants in the country’s northeast, are failing to address the growing crisis in the Middle Belt. “This is no longer about cattle,” Prof. Odinkalu said. “It’s about impunity. And once impunity takes root, the killings never stop.”
As fears grow that Plateau could spiral further into lawlessness, experts warn the world not to ignore the signs. “If unchecked, this could turn into another Rwanda,” said Dr. Lydia Obaje, a conflict researcher at the University of Jos. “It’s not just a Nigerian crisis anymore—it’s a humanitarian emergency in the making.”
Segun Onibiyo covers terrorism and conflict for TruthNigeria. He has reported extensively on insurgencies, militias, and humanitarian crises across West Africa.
