Plateau Violence Deepens as Community Leaders Condemn Killings of Farmers and Call for Accountability

Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

Jos, Nigeria — A wave of deadly violence in Plateau State has once again thrust long‑standing tensions between farming communities, pastoralists and security forces into the spotlight, as local leaders on Monday condemned attacks that left at least three farmers dead and sharply questioned the response of Nigerian troops. The deaths have intensified anguish among residents who say the losses are part of a broader pattern of insecurity that has devastated rural communities across the region.

The latest incidents, which took place in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas, were confirmed by multiple local reports indicating that three farmers and a herder were killed in separate attacks earlier this week. These deaths occurred only days after a high‑profile security deployment in the state following a separate mass killing in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North, where gunmen recently killed dozens of people in a university‑community assault, prompting curfews and heightened national attention.

Plateau community leaders have reacted with outrage, particularly critiquing the conduct of soldiers who, they say, demanded compensation from villagers for the death of a single cow in the area — even as human lives were lost to armed violence. “They made us pay when one cow was killed last week, but who will pay for these men killed by the Fulanis?” one community elder lamented, articulating widespread frustration over what residents view as misplaced priorities by security forces.

This most recent flare‑up underscores the heavy toll of an ongoing conflict in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where disputes between mostly nomadic herders (largely of Fulani ethnicity) and sedentary farming communities have repeatedly erupted into violence. While the immediate triggers of the latest attacks remain under investigation, the incidents fit a broader pattern that human rights and security analysts have documented in Plateau and neighbouring states, where clashes over land, grazing routes and resource access have drawn in vigilante factions, militias, and state forces.

Plateau’s insecurity landscape has a long and tragic history. In December 2023, coordinated attacks attributed to militias believed to be armed Fulani fighters swept through rural parts of Bokkos and Barkin Ladi, killing nearly 200 people and displacing hundreds more. Those massacres drew international concern and highlighted how rapidly localized disputes can escalate into widespread carnage.

In the broader Nigeria context, herder‑farmer tensions have periodically boiled over into major bloodshed. Historical analysis of the conflict shows repeated cycles of reprisals, with dozens of lethal incidents recorded in Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa and other central states over the past decade. Analysts point to environmental stressors, demographic pressures, weak law enforcement and politicised ethnic and religious identities as factors exacerbating these disputes.

Local residents of Plateau say the human and economic costs are profound. Farmers describe a climate of fear in which fields once tilled for generations now lie fallow as families hide from violence. For many, the death of a cow — which has traditional economic and cultural significance in rural Nigeria — pales in comparison to the loss of kin, livelihoods and a sense of safety. The disputed practice of compensation for livestock losses has historically been part of informal mechanisms to resolve farmer‑herder grievances, but villagers argue it should never supersede efforts to protect human life.

Security sources indicate that both the Nigerian Army and police are monitoring the situation and conducting investigations into the latest killings. State officials have previously acknowledged the precarious security situation and pledged to enhance operations in volatile local government areas, though community trust in these institutions remains low. Many residents say security outposts are sparse, response times slow, and credible protection elusive.

The Nigeria Governors Forum and civil society groups have repeatedly urged Abuja to adopt more comprehensive approaches to the herder‑farmer conflict, including investments in sustainable grazing reserves, land‑use reforms, stronger policing, and community reconciliation initiatives. However, progress has been uneven, leaving many rural areas vulnerable to recurring violence.

Political leaders in Plateau have also weighed in. Following the mass killing in Angwan Rukuba late last month, the state government imposed a curfew and suspended academic activities in parts of Jos while urging calm. These measures reflect the acute challenges faced by authorities trying to balance security operations with civil liberties and economic activity in the wake of violent outbreaks.

Stakeholders from across Nigerian society have called for accountability from all parties involved in violence, stressing that enduring peace will only come through justice and reconciliation. Religious organisations, farmers’ associations, and human rights defenders have pressed for transparent investigations and for perpetrators — whether armed assailants or complicit actors — to be held to account under Nigerian law.

Meanwhile, families of the recently slain farmers are preparing burials and demanding answers. For them, the losses are not abstract statistics but the abrupt end of fathers, sons and neighbours whose only “crime” was tending their farms. Their grief is shared by neighbours who say the constant threat of violence has made daily life precarious and future prospects uncertain.

As Plateau continues to grapple with insecurity, the interplay of historical grievances, resource competition and inadequate protection has underscored the urgent need for constructive dialogue, effective governance and genuine commitment from state and federal leaders to protect civilians and foster conditions for lasting peace. Without tangible progress, residents fear that calm will remain fragile and lives will continue to be lost in conflicts that have, for too long, defied simple solutions.

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