Following a series of deadly attacks that have shaken Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has announced immediate security measures, including a ban on night grazing and restrictions on motorcycle movement.
During a state-wide broadcast on Wednesday, Governor Mutfwang condemned the violence as “coordinated acts of terror” with the intention of displacing residents from their ancestral lands and eroding their right to live in peace.
To curb the violence, he also prohibited the transportation of cattle by vehicle after 7pm and imposed a state-wide restriction on motorcycle use from 7pm to 6am.
Referencing past tragedies, Mutfwang said, “The tragic echoes of Dogo Na Hawa, Riyom, Barkin-Ladi, Mangu, and the Christmas Eve massacres in Bokkos remain vivid. The cycle continues, but it must not endure. Enough Is Enough.”
He vowed not to let Plateau State succumb to fear or normalize bloodshed.
“As your governor, I stand resolved — Plateau shall not be overrun by fear, nor shall we accept this culture of bloodshed as the new normal,” he declared.
“My administration is intensifying efforts to protect our people and enforce the rule of law across all local governments.”
The measures, effective April 16, include a statewide ban on night cattle grazing, a prohibition on cattle transportation after 7pm, and restricted motorcycle use during nighttime hours.
Addressing residents directly, Mutfwang said, “My Dear People of Plateau, I speak to you not just as your Governor, but as your brother — one who deeply feels the pain and sorrow that has again darkened our land.”
The latest violence struck Zikwe Village in Bassa LGA late on Sunday, April 13th, when unknown gunmen launched a brutal night attack.
The following day, Kimakpa village in Miango district witnessed similar horror, where at least 50 people were reportedly killed.
“There was no specific target. They were just shooting,” said 25-year-old survivor Peter John. Speaking from a hospital bed, he recounted how he fled by climbing onto the roof after gunmen stormed his family home around 10:00 pm.
Tragically, his sister, her daughter, his older brother, and a nine-month-old niece were all killed.
“They shot and killed my younger sister and her daughter right in front of me,” he recalled.
The recurring conflict between farmers and herders in Plateau is often inflamed by competition over land, compounded by climate change, illegal mining, and land grabbing.
The religious and ethnic divide — with Christian farmers and predominantly Fulani Muslim herders — adds further complexity.
John and other witnesses told AFP that the attackers spoke the Fulani language. While a local herder group condemned the violence, they also claimed their own communities were under attack from farmers.
So far, no arrests have been made, and authorities have yet to establish a motive for the fresh wave of violence.
“This is not an isolated conflict between farmers and herders,” Mutfwang emphasized. “What we are witnessing is a systematic and premeditated campaign,” alleging that the attacks had external “sponsors.”
He encouraged communities to protect themselves lawfully and urged vigilante groups to “organize night patrols in coordination with the security agencies”.
Peter John said he attempted to call local vigilantes during the attack but received no help. “It was too late,” he said.
His seven-year-old nephew, suffering machete wounds to the neck and head, lay nearby in severe pain.
Earlier that day, security forces had reportedly been stationed in Kimakpa due to rising insecurity, but they departed before nightfall.
“The attackers came, shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ (‘God is Greater’), and began shooting, killing people, and burning houses,” John added.
Another victim, Diwe Gado Diwe, described the event as “one of the worst experiences” of his life. His cousin was among the dead, and his brother later died in the ICU after being attacked.
“She told me not to come,” Diwe said of a call from his sister warning him to stay away during the assault.
“I tried calling the vigilante group, but the line didn’t go through.”
Jessica John, 45, sat beside her son, Saryie John, in the hospital, awaiting surgery.
He had returned home with a friend after fleeing the house earlier.
The friend was killed; Saryie survived, though he has a bullet lodged in his chest.
