Reprisals Escalate Killings In Plateau

The recent killing of four traders from Yandoya community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State has prompted deployment of security operatives to douse tension that rose in Jos, the state capital.

Our correspondent, who visited the community, reports that prior to the security deployment, youths had gathered in huge numbers, chanting that the bodies of the victims must be provided.

Parents the victims said the traders, who were six in a Vectra vehicle on their way to Pankshin, were attacked before getting to Mangu Hale, community in Mangu LGA where four of them were killed.

The two others who escaped are said to be with personnel of Operation Enduring Peace in Barkin Ladi for questioning.

The killing of the four traders followed the Sunday night attack at a relaxation centre in Dorowa Babuje community where ten farmers were killed and three injured; a situation that prompted the community to block the Jos-Shendam Highway yesterday morning in protest against the killing of the farmers.

The protesters demanded that the perpetrators be apprehended and punished.

One of them, Samson Godiya, said: “We have suffered as a community for too long in the hands of these attackers whom we know to be Fulani herdsmen. For how long shall we continue to be killed without anything being done to stop them?”

Attacks and counter attacks mostly by farming and herding communities has become the order of the day in various LGAs of the state since 2001 with each group accusing the other of unprovoked attacks on their members.

Those clashes have resulted in hundreds of deaths, displacement and destruction of property.

67 killed in over 2 months

On December 1, 2025, assailants reportedly killed a herder, Yakubu Salisu, while he was grazing cattle around Kira’s village in Bokkos Local LGA.

On December 11, 2025, gunmen attacked herders and rustled no fewer than 168 cattle in Nding community of Barikin Ladi.

On December 13, 2025, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) reported that many cattle of its members were killed after they were allegedly poisoned while grazing around Kwi village of Riyom LGA.

On December 15, 2025,  the MACBAN reported that gunmen opened fire on herders, killing 13 cattle and injuring 12 others along Gero road, Jos South LGA.

On December 17, 2025, the Berom Educational and Cultural Organization (BECO), said no fewer than 12 miners were killed by gunmen while many others missing following an attack on Fan district of Barkin Ladi LGA.

On December 29, 2015  the MACBAN said gunmen killed their members at the Conoil Fueling station, located on Bukur Expressway in Jos South LGA, injuring five.

On January 1, 2026, at least, nine farmers were reportedly killed and three others injured in a fresh attack in Bum community in Chugwi, Vwang District of Jos South LGA.

On January 2, gunmen reportedly attacked Bong village in Doemak district of Qua’an Pan lga, killing seven persons and injuring many others.

On January 7, gunmen attacked herders, killing one and injuring another around Gero community of Jos South LGA.

On January 8, six farmers were killed and one injured in separate incidents in Foron and Gero communities of Jos South and Barkin Ladi LGAs.

On January 12, eleven cattle were allegedly shot dead and poisoned in two separate communities of Riyom and Barkin Ladi LGAs.

On January 15, 102 cattle were allegedly rustled after gunmen attacked herding community in Ganawuri community of Riyom LGA.

On January 17, three farmers were reportedly killed and one other injured when gunmen attacked farmers around Nding village, Barkin Ladi LGA.

On January 22, seven farmers were killed when gunmen attacked a mining site around Kuru axis in the Kuru district of South LGA.

On February 19, gunmen killed three herders along the Dorowa-Jong road in Barkin Ladi LGA.

On February 21, a farmer, identified as Mr Sunday Darian, was reportedly killed along Jol community of  Riyom LGA.

On February 23, six traders were killed when gunmen ambushed their vehicle while travelling from Jos to Pankshin LGA for a business transaction.

Government condemns attacks

Brigadier-General Shipi Gakji, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters,  said criminal elements were bent on  unleashing  mayhem for their personal gain.

He said: “The governor is doing everything possible to restore law and order in the affected communities. That’s why he has strengthened the Plateau State Peace Building Agency to foster mutual respect among residents. The agency’s mandate is to intervene when warning signals are detected, using mediation and dialogue to prevent escalation.The government has also recruited 1,450 Operation Rainbow personnel to boost security statewide.

“The government has taken strategic and decisive steps to address the issue, and won’t tolerate violence against innocent citizens.”

The spokesperson of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, said the GOC and commander of the Operation, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, “ has been doing everything to bring all parties together. We have been organizing stakeholders’ meetings with all parties on the need to live with one another.

“Some weeks ago, we were in Mangu engaging with all relevant stakeholders and the meeting was fruitful. Last week we were in Bokkos LGA where we met with farming and herding communities. On Thursday, we are going for another engagement with stakeholders in another LGA. So, these are part of what we have been doing to build confidence and restore trust. The GOC will not tolerate any act of violence and he is sending a warning to those perpetrating violence to stop or face consequences before it’s too late.”

Berom, Fulani speak

Berom and Fulani ethnic groups have spoken their minds on the reoccurring violence in their various communities.

Barrister Solomon Dalyop, President of Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), said indiscriminate grazing would not be tolerated because it had been been causing serious tension in the areas.

He said: “This, therefore, calls for the following as measures to stem the incessant killings, destruction and displacement as well as disruption perpetrated by the armed Fulani militants, ban on open and forceful grazing,  observance of all buffer-zones and grazing prohibited sites and areas, recruitment of natives and/or residents as Civilian JTF as done in the North-East and dislodging all terrorist enclaves in Plateau State; and other measures deemed necessarily expedient in the prevailing circumstances.”

For the state chairman of MACBAN, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, accusations of land grabbing are often vague and misunderstood.

“We keep hearing we are land grabbers, but what exactly does that mean? People need to ask who’s grabbing land from whom. The Fulani need to understand what land grabbing means because we don’t know. The real issue is this question of who belongs and who doesn’t. Our members are killed on daily basis. Cattle shot at will as if we don’t belong to the country just because we cannot talk.

“Government and security agencies must be fair to all irrespective of their ethno-religious differences. We should be allowed to go about our lawful activities like any other.”

The fact-finding committee on incessant attacks, killings and destruction in Plateau State over the last 20 years had, last September, submitted its report to the governor.

The committee revealed that over 11,000 people were killed in two decades of the crisis.

The chairman of the committee, Major General Nicholas Rogers (rtd) had said: “The crisis in Plateau state is not domicile to any ethnic groups. All the ethnic groups are involved. It is wrong to pinpoint any particular tribe and say it is responsible.

“We have all made mistakes in one way or the other and it is the mistake that led to this issue of crisis and then it is not be proper to say one particular group is responsible.”(Daily trust)