The Nigerian Army has made a significant revelation about the ongoing crisis in Plateau State, identifying community self-defense as a major factor exacerbating the violence that has rocked various communities in the north-central region.
Army Official Points to Cycle of Violence
Major General MA Etsy-Ndagi, the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, stated during a media chat in Jos that communities defending themselves have not yielded positive results but instead worsened the security situation. The army general emphasized that the crisis between farming and herding communities represents a continuous cycle of violence where both sides engage in attacks and counter-attacks.
According to Etsy-Ndagi, the situation involves farmers and herders accusing each other of various offenses, with farmers alleging farm destruction and herders alleging cattle rustling. He described this pattern as a circle of violence that continues to escalate tensions in the region.
Urgent Call for Disarmament and Peace
The Nigerian Army has stressed the critical need to seize weapons, including locally fabricated ones, from anyone found possessing them. To ensure the security of lives and property, we have to ensure everyone is disarmed and nobody fabricates weapons, so as to give way to peace, Etsy-Ndagi declared.
While acknowledging that the army does not condone communities defending themselves, the Major General emphasized their commitment to protecting traumatized communities and providing them with necessary support. He urged Plateau residents to live peacefully with one another and cooperate with security agencies to ensure sustainable peace and development in their respective communities.
Presidential Intervention and Recent Attacks
The development comes as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dispatched an emissary, Dr Abiodun Essiet, to Plateau State on Thursday, November 13, 2025. The Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement in the North Central Zone held meetings with both Christian clerics and Fulani Miyetti Allah community leaders in an effort to address the escalating tensions.
Meanwhile, the security situation remains dire, with thirteen people confirmed dead after coordinated attacks on two villages in Barkin Ladi local government area. Community leaders and youth groups have called for tighter security measures and dismissed claims that cattle rustling alone caused the violence.
The Council Chairman Stephen Pwajok condemned the killings as unprovoked and regrettable, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive security solutions in the region.
