No One Spared in Brutal Plateau State Massacre, Say Survivors

Jos, Nigeria – 16 April 2025 – Survivors of two devastating attacks in Nigeria’s Plateau State have recounted scenes of unimaginable horror, as gunmen and machete-wielding assailants tore through villages, leaving over 100 people dead in what is being described as one of the worst episodes of violence in the region in recent years.

“There was no specific target. They were just shooting,” said 25-year-old Peter John, a resident of Kimakpa village, located approximately 25 kilometres from the state capital, Jos. Speaking from his hospital bed, John described how he escaped the assault by climbing onto the roof of his home. Below him, his sister, her daughter, his elder brother, and nine-month-old niece were slaughtered by the attackers.

The twin assaults—taking place within a fortnight—targeted villages in the Bokkos and Barkin Ladi districts. These areas have long been hotspots in Nigeria's volatile Middle Belt, a region where disputes over land between predominantly Christian farming communities and largely Muslim Fulani herders have escalated amid climate pressures and a weakening security apparatus.

Eyewitnesses, including John, reported that the attackers spoke the Fulani language and screamed religious slogans such as "Allahu Akbar" before opening fire and setting houses ablaze. Although no group has claimed responsibility, the attacks are being viewed as part of a broader, more calculated campaign of violence.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the incidents as “systematic and premeditated,” stating that the killings went beyond traditional farmer-herder clashes and suggested involvement from external sponsors. In an emergency response, the Plateau State government has banned nighttime cattle grazing and restricted cattle transport after 7:00 p.m., urging local vigilante units to coordinate night patrols with formal security forces.

The governor’s actions, however, have come too late for many families. Diwe Gado Diwe, 41, recounted how his brother was killed in hospital after being shot and hacked. “She told me not to come,” he said, referring to a call from his sister during the attack. “It was too dangerous. I tried calling the vigilante group, but the line didn’t go through.”

Others shared similar accounts of helplessness and grief. Jessica John, 45, sat beside her wounded son Saryie, awaiting surgery to remove a bullet lodged in his chest. Her son had returned home with a friend to check on their family after fleeing the initial gunfire. The friend was shot dead on the spot.

Despite the presence of security forces earlier in the day, they had vacated the village by the time the evening violence began. This has raised critical questions about the responsiveness of Nigerian security services in areas increasingly susceptible to banditry, communal clashes, and insurgent activity.

The crisis in Plateau is not new. Nigeria’s Middle Belt has witnessed decades of conflict, with the roots of violence often traced to resource scarcity, religious divisions, and state failure. However, the intensity and indiscriminate nature of these recent killings have shocked even those familiar with the region's troubled past.

Human rights organisations have continued to call for greater accountability and protection for civilians. With arrests yet to be made and no confirmed motive, fears are growing that the state may be slipping deeper into lawlessness.

Meanwhile, ordinary Nigerians like Peter John and Jessica John are left to mourn their loved ones, tend to the wounded, and wonder if anyone will be held responsible.