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There are no differences between Boko Haram and Bandits – General Musa

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There are no difference between Boko Haram and Bandits - General Musa

There are no differences between Boko Haram and Bandits – General Musa

Theatre commander operation Hadin Kai, Major General Christopher Musa speaks on factors prolonging the insurgency in North East Nigeria. In this Interview with NEWSng, General Christopher Musa also speaks on how desperate Boko Haram Terrorists buy 20 litres of petrol at N150,000, the need for a national census to upgrade the country’s security data bank and others. Sam Kayode sents Excerpt:

BEFORE BANDITING WAS LESS DEADLY THAN INSURGENCY BECAUSE THEY WENT FOR THE CASH FROM KIDNAPPING, BUT THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NORTH WEST AND CENTRAL OF THE COUNTRY IS BRINGING A NEW TWIST SUCH THAT NIGERIANS WONDER IF THERE IS ANY IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.

..cuts in … There is no difference between the two. They are all Boko Haram. The thing is that anywhere you line up criminality, even if it’s armed robbers that are in it, other criminal elements will join it. That’s always the process. What do they really want? When a trade is going on and it’s succeeding, the tendency is for everyone to want to be involved. It’s normal. So that is the point. They started it small and have seen that this one doesn’t pay, what is paying now is banditry.

BUT GENERAL, DO YOU REALLY HAVE BANDITRY IN YOUR THEATRE?

Not really, but when things like this happen, they always say, trail the money. Where is the money going? Cattle rustling is one way they are making money. How do they make money? When they get like 200 cows, they take them to the market. A big bull may cost about N200,000. But he is telling you to pay just N50,000 and take all of it away. How many people will really say no to that? A business man who knows he is having N50,000 per cow, knows how much is involved. He or she is ready to take the risk and because it’s free, the criminals are getting it at N50,000 which is a good price to them. These are some of the issues we are dealing with. People are also selling fuel to the insurgents. They take a full tank of fuel and off load for the criminals. This is simply because if you have 20 litres, you will get N150,000 cash from Boko Haram. And that was the deal before the last scarcity of fuel. So you can imagine how much it goes for now. And this is why we are having sympathizers. And the evil continues because some business people are making money. Now we have adequate Intel to indicate that  some NGOs are paying as much as ten years for accommodation. So what is their plan? Before now, how much did it cost to rent a house in Maiduguri? For them to want to pay ten times the amount. If the people selling fuel are getting N150,000 for just 20 litres. How many sympathizers would want to say no to the deal?  Let me tell you, anything you take to them, they are ready to pay over 100, 200 percent of the market price to get it. People don’t care anymore and that is the danger of monetizing society. Everyone is after the money. Yahoo, cultists, all of them, what are they fighting for? It’s the cash, nothing more. The society doesn’t seem to care how you get it, just make the money and that is all.

ON YOUR PROMISE TO END THIS CONFLICT WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, GOD WILLING?

We have more than 51,000 surrendered insurgents and their families now. That means that we are doing well. And they have been building up in numbers since July last year till this year and more are still surrendering. They are tired and are not finding it easy because they lack food. Most times now when they commit  their crimes, they used to visit people’s kitchens to get food at all costs.  So it is getting to that level.  That is why we think that if we stop these things

And all these people conniving with them are the ones prolonging the matter. You are sneaking out to give them food, fuel, medicines etc. Those are the things prolonging the war and that is why we want the people to understand that this kind of warfare needs everyone to be on board. You must not allow them to get those access, meaning that you must report when you see them doing those things. We are not everywhere and we can’t be everywhere. And you know they are not wearing uniforms that would enable us to know them. So if we don’t see them and people don’t tell us, it’s difficult for us. 

BUT THE INSURGENTS ARE NOT NEW TO WEARING MILITARY FATIGUES. THEY DO WEAR SOMETIMES TO TORMENT TROOPS AND PAST MANAGEMENT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THE NEEDFUL BY INTERFERING IN THE SALE OF THE MATERIALS IN THE OPEN MARKET.

….cuts in , we don’t control the market or the borders. That is why for any nation to prosper, there are key elements that can actually check mate asymmetric warfare. You must have a good border control system, a good forest reserve system with forest rangers manning them, you must have a good policing system and good governance. So you see if these things are not there it becomes a problem. Libya is still in uproar after many years. Mali, Central Africa and all these areas. Everything just flows through Niger and that country is so big, it can’t be controlled easily so it just spills out into Nigeria. Another key element I want you to pick up is that we can’t develop without a good policing system. The police have a vital role to play towards the successes against criminality in any community. Also, we need data to strengthen security for instance. But we don’t have a comprehensive  national database. We need to conduct a national census which will capture every Nigerian in the world and then the ones in the diaspora. If we build up that aspect every one will have a number. Your thumb print would be captured and other vital details. So it would be easier to monitor these things.

BUT WITH THE NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (NIM), WE SHOULD BE MAKING PROGRESS AS A NATION ISN’T IT?

Indeed we are but if they want it to be comprehensive, they must capture it from toddlers. So that it builds up a complete database. If you visit some countries, every hospital, schools, are registered. If you are giving birth in a hospital, the hospital will give you a number. Who is the doctor? Nurses?  All theses will be recorded. So they will track you all through your life. So there is nowhere you can go and lie. If you come here and say I am a Nigerian, once it’s imputed, it should bring out your details. Everything about your history. The current NIM system doesn’t involve toddlers. It starts from 16 or so which eliminates new born. And you see with the internet technology now, all you need here is complete. So every year they give birth, their names come into the database and once they are 18 their Identification cards are given to them. Other countries start their NIMs as early as the first year of the child. NIM should go with a birth certificate if we must make progress not only in security but in all spheres of life. By now, we should have eliminated the issue of affidavit etc whenever the need comes to prove one’s date or place of birth.

Also Read: Kashim Shettima: On the Day of valedictory for…

Again we must bring back the issue of toll gates. That too is very important. Toll gates are not only meant to generate revenue. It enhances security. That means if you have 5 vehicles, all would be registered in your name. We will know your house, your phone number, email address, thumb print, signature and picture. As a result, you can be tracked from anywhere in the country. If a vehicle is stolen today. The owner would just call the police. And as soon as your stolen car drives into any of the checkpoints, it would be locked in and that is how it would be retrieved for the owner. Abroad, when you have all these security checks it’s not as if they are doing witchcraft. They put all these things in place as checks. So you know that if you commit a crime, there is always a 50/50 chance that you would be caught. That is the difference.

BUT GENERAL, HOW DO WE HELP THE POLICE WITHOUT INJECTING TOO MUCH MILITARY INTO THEM?

Training, training and training. They must upgrade and train continuously. Human rights and many conflict issues are there for them to handle. We need to start from their training institutions. Why do you think the military has been making so much progress against all odds? Training. I have been writing exams since I enlisted into the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA). And I am still undergoing training till this day. By training I mean we attend courses with people all over the world. The police need those kinds of consistent exposure too, to enable them to become a formidable partner against these criminals. We must upgrade our police to be able to do some contemporary things properly. Training must be increased for all cadres of police for them to catch up. Even the recruitment process has to be improved. Who are we recruiting? By now we should not have any police man recruited who is illiterate. If we are serious.

AGREED BUT THEIR TRAINING BASE IN GWOZA IS A DANGEROUS TARGET AND A RISK ZONE FOR TERRORISTS.

…..cuts in.. That place is safe now. Take my word. They can go back. We have secured the place and some of their men are on the ground as we speak. We have moved on beyond Gwoza to Sambisa clearing the entire general area. This is the most I can tell you for now. All what these criminals are doing now is hit and run. We have uprooted them from all their strongholds. The same applies with the Timbuktu triangle and we have made so much progress. We are grateful for the input from our Chief because now we have been further empowered with more equipment. And by the grace of God, we are making progress. Imagine if we had 100 percent of what we wanted. These criminals would have been history long ago.

YOU ARE LUCKY CHIEF YAHAYA WAS HERE AND FOUGHT ALONG SIDE TROOPS LIKE YOU ARE DOING, SO HE KNOWS WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES.

Indeed, he is doing his best. You see we have gone very far within a short span of doing our best too. All the criminals are doing now is what you described as hit and run. We have uprooted them from all their strongholds. They don’t have permanent bases anymore. We have started “Operation Desert Sanity”  while the MultiNational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) is conducting “Operation lake sanity”. Normally, when you strike here, they run to either Niger, Chad or one of those countries. But now the MNJTF is making sure they are trapped, while we make progress from here ensuring that they don’t have to run.

WHAT UPDATE DO YOU HAVE FOR NIGERIANS ABOUT SECTOR 2 ESPECIALLY THE TROUBLES AROUND GEIDAM REGION.

We are making progress. Before now, operations used to be concentrated mostly on one area. Now we are running operations in the three sectors simultaneously. We have the MNJTF coming from the lake Chad axis and it’s our business to pursue the remnants. You see we can’t be everywhere bombing every one because the criminals delibrately mix with the people as a smoke screen. Our business is to go after them and clear the general areas.

SECTOR ONE?

We are doing our best. At least people can sleep with their eyes closed in the state capital. Our results speak for itself.

BUT COMMUTERS CANNOT DRIVE FROM THE STATE CAPITAL TO BAMA AND BEYOND UNESCORTED

…cuts in Why? People do drive down. It’s just because of fear. When something strikes you once , you want to be cautious on how you move. But I think it’s a gradual process before it picks up fully. But let me tell you this. The main challenge we are having now is the IEDs they plant on the way and run away. This is the greatest threat we are having on all our roads now. The roads have deteriorated over the years because they were not well made. If the roads are tarred, it eliminates such threats against commuters totally. We have opened up Maiduguri-Damboa- Biu road but daily we must go with escorts to re-check and ensure that the criminals do not add anything on the road. We have removed over 98 IEDs so far and we are still counting. It could be devastating when it happens to people.

And then when we see it happening to soldiers or civilians it becomes really painful. We are making do with hampholders to sort this lingering IED menace. You can imagine 180km between Maiduguri and Monguno, you have to drop down to the ground intermittently to clear the road  before continuing the journey. But if the roads are fixed, that would be eliminated completely. The Government should just help us tar the roads such that the criminals would not be able to plant such IEDs easily. 

RESIDENTS OF NGANZE ARE UNHAPPY OVER THE MILITARY’S INABILITY TO CLEAR GUDUMBALI FOR A LONG TIME, TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE EXPLOITS OF YOUR TROOPS IN SECTOR 3.

I can assure you that we have cleared Gudumbali and the troops are now combing the general area of Darere, Arege and beyond Kareto. If this continues, they will not have the ability to come in from the Timbuktu area to terrorized any resident.

GENERAL, HOW FREE IS THE LAKE CHAD AS AS AT TODAY?

The good news is that Baga is unbelievably fine now. Farming and fishing activities are back to normal. Garere, Metele up to Abadam is fine and open to returning residents. The idea is to open up those areas. That means that we shall soon deal with the criminals inside the Tumbus.The Navy is back in Baga and have started full clearing operations.

We must hold that place and I will see to that because we realized that the criminals are making money from selling fish to further their course. With that settled it would be all over for them, except for the support they are receiving from ISIS.  Even so, we have advised the Federal Government  to trail and block that money line. We understand that ISWAP is much more established than Boko Haram which is why ISWAP is still there but you should also realize that recently we have started taking out their Commanders forcing them to change guards many times. 

I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE DOZENS OF ISLANDS IN THE LAKE/ TUMBUS REGION. PRECISELY HOW MANY ARE WE DEALING WITH? 

Many but we don’t really know their numbers dotting the lake. There are so many of them used by the criminals as hideouts. But as I said we have the Navy there. And they are fully supported. We gave them all the support they needed to go back to work. And don’t forget we have the 403 army amphibious brigade. They operate both on land and water supporting us over there. Since our operations are all over the place now we shall surely overcome.

IMPROVED SYNERGY WITH THE AIRFORCE

100 percent I would say. We have a fantastic synergy and we all work together. The days of inter-service strife are over now and I can tell you that we enjoy the Comradeship of each other now. Why? Because the current service Chiefs were all Commanders here. Right from the Defense Chief down the line, they all understand the dynamics of what is on ground. By our training it’s strange for such rivalries to exist in the military. Take it from me.

A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK, EACH SERVICE WAS TRYING INDIVIDUALLY TO PLEASE THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF SO IT’S GOOD DEVELOPMENT THAT THE PERCEIVED STRIFE HAS BEEN JETTISONED.

cuts in.. The services were never wired to work that way. But now we are all together. We work in synergy. Every challenge in the theatre is crushed as a team. We assist each other to achieve the common goal which is meant to eliminate the criminals. You should also know about our welfare package for troops. Every two weeks, flight C130 comes down and picks troops to pass to any part of the country. That’s the result of good synergy between services.

LOOPHOLES ON STRIKE TIME BEFORE THE ADVENT OF THE TUKANOS?

The air force is doing its best. You know everyone has challenges. They battle with platform challenges like us so we understand them better now because it’s the same platforms we utilize to do the job. Don’t forget they have many hours to work with. They must take these planes for regular turn around maintenance. And of course the weather is another challenge. Most times if the weather is bad, there is little they can do because of impeding factors. But thank God now we are having drones which can get to anywhere the planes can’t. Of course the drones can’t be enough. We surely need more.

OTHER RECURRING CHALLENGES?

Well, If we can get more modern anti IEDs equipment, it would increase our capacity coupled with the personnel for that. Surely we will always have more fighting personnel. 

From here to Monguno is 145km yet it takes up to six hours to get there instead of the normal one hour if we must connect in time. This is because if you don’t check well and you drive on them, you will burst and that is dangerous.

Good roads will help in the enforcement of supplies and many other logistics issues. It also aids the economy, because once people can move easily it’s easier to escape ambushes. These attacks take place mostly where the road is terribly bad. Smooth roads also aid the economy because once people can move their lives will improve.

Let me use this opportunity to assure Nigerians that we have worked on our skills and tactics and we are making progress quietly to achieve our set goals and targets. We are also carrying everyone along from the Imams, Bulamas to the Limans. They have accepted that war is a collective burden everyone must bear. And for it to end, all of us must partner. Even the media. I can tell you I have visited the media houses to spread the word and they all understand we must work as a team against a common enemy.

RATE YOUR COLLABORATION WITH BORNO RESIDENTS ON THE ANTI TERROR CAMPAIGN

Frankly I will rate them 75 percent. They have been wonderful giving us maximum support on anything happening anywhere. They always try to reach out to us as soon as they see anything strange. They have been helpful partners. Further on safe routes, all I want people to know is that wherever you are going to be very careful. Our troops are always there to clear the place, but you know you can’t be everywhere. Anywhere we have troops, residents should cooperate with them. They will tell them where, how and what to do for their own safety. Residents should stop sympathizing with Boko Haram. All those buying and selling with the enemy should stop the commercial activities. We have banned fertilizer in the theatre yet people are still going out to give them urea fertilizers. Residents should understand that these guys don’t mean well for them. And you know what, a lot of them want to surrender but their Commanders are making brisk money so they don’t want them to surrender. The more we move into the Savannah, the more they have been surrendering and that is a welcome development.

CAN YOU PEEP INTO THE ESTIMATE POPULATION OF THE ENEMY REMAINING IN THE SAVANNAH?

For now I can tell you that over 11,000 fighters have surrendered. We have more than 20,000 kids fathered by them. And they have one system of increasing their population. They impregnate their wives four months after they have given birth without allowing them to wean the previous baby. Strange mentality to increase their population which is why more kids will soon be coming out with their mothers. We have been picking out the combatants from the non combatants.

This is so that the Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) model will become the Borno model that will sort them out. The legal system would be there and the victims would also be part of the system. So we are working together with the victims so that everyone knows what is going on.

SO NIGERIANS SHOULD NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT THE SPREAD OF THE ISWAP IDEOLOGY INTO THE NORTH CENTRAL BY KIDNAPPING BANDITS.

No these are just splinter groups and it happens when the heat is turned on them here. And the next step is let’s look for some new areas so we expand our money making schemes. Boko Haram and ISWAP were together before the split. Boko Haram had their own in fighting before the formation of ISWAP and now even within ISWAP there is inner fighting too. And you know that was how they kept fighting themselves to our advantage. 

ANSWERED PRAYERS AND DIVINE  INTERVENTION BY GOD WE CAN CALL IT GENERAL THEN

Yes indeed. ISWAP never had much manpower to take on Boko Haram head long. They had always dreamt of poaching from the Boko Haram might.  So even with the death of Shekau and the decimation of Boko Haram, the sub commanders scattered around are still more in population than the ISWAP. The only strength of the ISWAP is that they are more organized but the Boko Haram guys are still higher in numbers out there. Boko Haram were killing people  brazenly only to show that they had the upper hand. Nothing more.

DO ISWAP STILL SHARE SALLAH PACKAGES TO PEOPLE TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE BETTER OFF?

Indeed. This war is about warming the hearts of the people. Once the community is not with them, they can’t penetrate. They went to Kano and what happened? Kano rejected them. This is because Kano is a commercial city so they could not tolerate their excesses. It is now that we are beginning to get to that kind of arrangement in this Theatre. Residents now report strange people in their environment. They give us instant Intel as soon as anyone strange comes into their area.

GOD WILLING, INSURGENCY SHOULD BE HISTORY BY MAY 29, 2023.

Sure but remember that this is asymmetric warfare. And they are fighting a course with their minds. We cannot say for sure 100 percent. We believe that by that time God is keeping us, they will not pose any serious challenge to us. To further answer your questions, what were the causative factors that led to this war? The Government needs to begin to  address some of those factors that led to this strife. Like poverty, illiteracy, hunger and all that.

There are no differences between Boko Haram and Bandits – General Musa

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EXCLUSIVE: Fulani Leaders fault fact-finding as Report uncovers two decades of unprovoked attacks on Fulani settlements across Plateau

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EXCLUSIVE: Fulani Leaders fault fact-finding as Report uncovers two decades of unprovoked attacks on Fulani settlements across Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has faulted the Plateau State High-Powered Fact-Finding Committee on Insecurity, accusing it of bias and deliberate exclusion of Fulani victims in its report covering attacks, killings, and destruction in Plateau communities from 2001 to 2025.

The association, in a statement issued on behalf of Fulani herding communities in the state, said the report as presented in some national dailies “grossly failed to capture the true dynamics and atrocities committed against Fulani herders.”

According to MACBAN, while the committee was expected to provide an objective and comprehensive appraisal of the long-running crisis in Plateau, its reported findings instead portrayed the Fulani as the principal aggressors a claim the association described as “a grave misrepresentation of facts.”

“The unfortunate cycle of violence in Plateau State is one of Nigeria’s most enduring ethno-religious and communal crises. Any genuine attempt at reconciliation must be anchored on fairness and truth,” the association said.

“The Fulani, as one of the indigenous and peace-loving communities in Plateau, have often been cast solely as aggressors in a deeply complex conflict in which they have also been victims of killings, displacement, and destruction,” it added.

MACBAN cited media publications on Sept. 19, 2025, which claimed that the committee’s report recorded 11,749 deaths and 420 communities attacked within 24 years, allegedly by Fulani militias and herders from neighbouring states.

It described such claims as one-sided and potentially dangerous, alleging that they could “blackmail Fulani communities and make them vulnerable to ill-treatment, intimidation, and further attacks.”

Although the committee’s chairman, Maj.-Gen. Rogers Ibe Nicholas (rtd), later clarified that all ethnic groups were involved in the Plateau crisis, MACBAN expressed shock that the Plateau State Government’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Gyang Bere, issued a statement on Sept. 16, linking Fulani herders to the attacks.

“The question is: who killed the Fulani people and destroyed their communities? Who are the perpetrators of the violence and displacement we have suffered? These are questions that remain unanswered,” the statement said.

The association maintained that the Fulani had consistently reported incidents of killings, cattle rustling, arson, and forced displacement to security agencies, including the Plateau State Police Command, the Department of State Services, and Operation Safe Haven, yet little action had been taken.

It further described as “unfounded lies” the claim that Fulani herders were solely responsible for the state’s violence, saying it was a “fabrication intended to achieve political objectives and demonise one community.”

MACBAN called on the Federal Government, security agencies, civil society organisations, and the international community to reject and condemn the report, insisting that it was “baseless, lopsided, and capable of derailing ongoing peace efforts.”

The association also faulted the report for ignoring “well-documented and verified security records” of atrocities committed against Fulani herders, including mass killings, cattle rustling, and destruction of settlements across Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Bassa local government areas between 2011 and 2025.

A comprehensive documentation of attacks on Fulani communities across Plateau State between 2001 and 2025 has revealed a consistent pattern of killings, destruction of settlements, and mass displacement allegedly perpetrated by armed militias operating in several local government areas.

The findings by Zagazola Makama compiled from community records, eyewitness accounts, and verified security correspondences, indicate that hundreds of Fulani men, women, and children have been killed in unprovoked assaults spanning Mangu, Bokkos, Bassa, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom LGAs. While official figures remain unconfirmed by state authorities, the victims’ names and dates of attacks provide a chilling record of prolonged violence that has gone largely unaddressed.

In Mangu Local Government Area between 2023 – 2025 about 263 persons were killed

In May 2023 at Murish District; Mallam Bello Ibrahim, Aisha Adamu, Halima Musa, Musa Danladi, Shehu Umar, Ali Haruna, and two unidentified children were killed when armed men attacked their settlement at night. July 2023 at Kombun and Pushit axis: Alhaji Haruna Ali, Saidu Bello, Hassana Umar, Adamu Dogo, Maryam Isa, and 10 others were killed in simultaneous attacks that razed several Fulani hamlets. In Feb. 2024 at Ampang West; 15 persons, including Umar Danjuma and Rakiya Bello, were killed in coordinated raids that also claimed over 800 cattle. In May 2024 at Jwak and In Kerang district, over 36 women and children were reportedly burnt inside their huts, while more than 2,000 cows were rustled or slaughtered. Oct. 2025 Along Mangu–NYSC Camp Road: Two Fulani women and a teenage boy were stopped on the road and executed by suspected militias. Their identities were given as Zainabu Sule, Hajara Musa, and Abdulrahman Adamu. In total, over 35 Fulani settlements have been destroyed, displacing more than 4,000 families from Mangu and adjoining areas with over 260 Fulani persons reportedly killed in coordinated night assaults between 2023 and 2025. The victims include women, children, and elderly herders who were attacked in their homes and on transit routes. Settlements such as Murish, Jwak, Bwai, Kombun, Ampang West, and Pushit were among the worst hit.
Notable victims recorded include Mallam Bello Ibrahim, Aisha Adamu, Musa Danladi, and Halima Musa, who were killed when armed groups stormed their hamlet in May 2023. The communities have been deserted, with thousands of displaced persons now scattered across Bauchi, Gombe, and Nasarawa States.

In Bokkos Local Government Area betwwen. 2019 – 2025 (approx. 78 killed)

In Jan. 2019 in Kwatas community: Alhaji Sule Dan Malam, Umaru Musa, Hauwa Haruna, and seven others were killed when attackers invaded the settlement during morning prayers. Similarly in July 2023 at Mangor District: 12 Fulani herders, including Musa Adamu, Rabi Bala, Isah Garba, and Sani Ibrahim, were ambushed and killed along the grazing route between Maiyanga and Ropp. While in Feb. 2024 at Rim village: Eight persons were killed and dozens of livestock rustled in another attack that forced residents of Daffo and Kambang to flee. May 2025 in Bokkos Central: 13 victims including Abdullahi Umar, Bashir Suleiman, and Hajara Mohammed were confirmed dead after renewed violence in the town’s outskirts. Another wave of violence left 13 Fulani persons dead, including Alhaji Sule Dan Malam, Umaru Musa, and Hauwa Haruna, whose bodies were recovered near Rim and Ropp villages in February 2024.

Eyewitnesses said several herders were ambushed while returning from grazing fields, with their livestock either rustled or shot at close range. In Kwatas and Maiyanga, at least 12 herders were killed in July 2023, prompting mass displacement of entire families. Security reports also confirmed the destruction of huts, food barns, and farmlands belonging to Fulani communities in Mangor, Kambang, and Daffo districts, forcing many survivors to relocate to Wase and Kanam LGAs. Community elders report that most displaced families from Bokkos now reside in temporary settlements in Wase, Kanam, and Bauchi States.

The pattern of killings has also spread to Bassa LGA, where Fulani herders were attacked near Nkie Dong, Maiyanga, and Miango districts, with more than 120 killed between 2017 – 2025
In Sept. 2017 – Nkyie Dong village: 20 Fulani residents including Mallam Yakubu Haruna and two of his sons were killed in an overnight assault. In June 2021, Maiyanga: Abubakar Sule, Yakubu Haruna, Aliyu Ibrahim, and Fatima Umar were ambushed while returning from Miango market. Similarly in Sept. 2024 – Ancha–Miango road: Abubakar Sule, Yakubu Haruna, and two teenage boys were executed after being stopped at a makeshift roadblock by suspected militias. In Feb. 2025 – Zanwra community: Nine women and six children were killed when their settlement was torched at dawn. Residents say more than 40 Fulani hamlets in Bassa have been destroyed since 2017, leaving hundreds of people displaced and without access to grazing lands.

In Riyom and Barkin Ladi, longstanding tensions have resulted in waves of killings resulting in the death of 94 Fulani and arson targeting Fulani hamlets. In Aug. 2015 at Shonong District: Malam Umar Gidado, Zainab Musa, and Aliyu Bello were among 15 Fulani persons killed in an early morning raid. In Mar. 2020 – Attakar–Rim axis: 14 persons were confirmed dead after gunmen opened fire on a convoy of herders relocating with their livestock.
Dozens of pastoral families were displaced from Shonong, Attakar, and Rim communities following repeated raids that left scores dead.
Victims identified from these areas include Malam Umar Gidado, Zainab Musa, and Aliyu Bello, who were reportedly killed in January 2023 when gunmen invaded their camp at night.
Jan. 2023 – Jol community: 11 Fulani youths were killed in a night attack that also led to loss of 300 cattle. Apr. 2025 – Tanjol area: Eight family members of Mallam Ibrahim Umar were killed in another ambush near the Kuru Station corridor. Fulani residents of Jol, Kuru Station, and Tanjol reported sustained harassment and cattle rustling incidents allegedly carried out by armed militias in the hills. They lamented that while attacks against other communities often receive immediate public outrage, the killings of Fulani herders go unreported and unpunished.

Barkin Ladi Local Government Area 2012 – 2025 (over 110 killed)

In June 2012 at Foron District: 23 Fulani herders, including women and children, were attacked and killed in reprisal raids following a dispute over farmland. Dec. 2020 – Ropp village: 10 Fulani men were shot dead while returning from a local market. May 2023 – Gashish District: Mallam Yusuf Haruna, Hassana Bello, Abdullahi Saleh, and five others were killed in a dawn attack on their settlement. Jan. 2025 – Ex-Ancha Road: 13 persons were confirmed dead in what witnesses described as “unprovoked gunfire” by unidentified armed men. In September 2024, a group of herders travelling along the Ancha–Miango road were stopped by armed men and executed. Among those killed were Abubakar Sule, Yakubu Haruna, and two teenage boys, whose remains were later recovered by community volunteers.

The violence, which intensified in 2025, has forced entire Fulani settlements to flee from ancestral grazing routes in Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Bassa Local Government Areas.

The latest was on Oct. 8, 2025, when another attack was recorded along Mangu Road near the NYSC camp, where two Fulani women and a young boy were reportedly stopped by gunmen and shot dead on the spot. Witnesses attributed the assault to suspected Berom militias operating unchecked in the area.

Community leaders told Zagazola Makama that the silence of authorities especially the state government and selective outrage in public discourse have contributed to worsening distrust and the cycle of reprisal attacks.

They called on the international communities who are now anchoring the genocide against Christians, federal and state governments to establish a judicial panel of inquiry to ensure justice for all victims, irrespective of ethnicity or religion.

“Hundreds of our people, including women and children, have been killed in unprovoked attacks. Many of our communities have been burnt down, yet these incidents were not captured in the committee’s findings,” the statement said.
The group reiterated its commitment to peace and dialogue but warned that peace could only be sustained through justice, fairness, and recognition of all victims irrespective of ethnicity or religion.

The affected communities have also appealed to the federal government, security agencies, and humanitarian partners to ensure the perpetrators are identified and prosecuted, while displaced families are resettled. They also urged journalists and civil society organisations to report the crisis objectively and ensure that the suffering of Fulani victims receives equal attention in national discourse.

“The Plateau conflict has lasted for more than two decades. True peace will come only when justice is done to every group, including the Fulani,” a displaced herder from Mangu said.

Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analysts in the Lake Chad Region
End

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Interview:  NHRC paid over N480 million to 120 people for rights infringements after the SARS investigative panel saga, – Hilary Ogbonna.

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Interview:  NHRC paid over N480 million to 120 people for rights infringements after the SARS investigative panel saga, – Hilary Ogbonna.

In this interview, Hilary Ogbonna, a senior human rights adviser to the executive secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, speaks after a recent stakeholders consultative forum on the tripartite partnership to support national human rights institutions, Bodunrin Kayode sent an excerpt:

Q: Who are the three parties in the tripartite agreement you mentioned earlier during the stakeholder forum, and how long will it last?

A: It’s a partnership to support human rights institutions. It is also a partnership started by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions. And this is supported by the Norwegians, who are big supporters of the partnership. The three of them came together with their respective mandates. Undp is the front-runner organization for the UN in terms of development, cooperation, rule of law, and governance. The office of the high commissioner for human rights is the gatekeeper for global human rights, and the global alliance for national human rights institutions is the coalition and secretariat of all national human rights commissions across the world, over a hundred of them. So the three of them came together to decide to support the national human rights institutions to be able to achieve their mandates of promoting and protecting human rights and ensuring that they work with stakeholders in civil societies across the world. They pick and choose which national human rights commission they will support at any given time, and this is Nigeria. So they decided to support us from January 2024 to December 2024. By January 2025, they will decide whether to continue and how. So what are they supporting? The main support they provide is the capacity of national human rights institutions to enable them to achieve their mandates for human rights monitoring and reporting, sourcing data for human rights, and supporting national organizations to establish frameworks for business and human rights. Training and capacity building for human rights commissions and for their subnational-level offices. Since we have an office in Borno, the reason we are here is to use this week to build the capacity of our staff so that they are able to support the people of this state. So under the TPP, we are also doing a lot around promoting women’s rights, gender equality, and human rights education. So for all of this, we are going to support the Borno State Office of the NHRC, and it will be done throughout the year. The overall goal is to ensure that human rights commissions are effective in implementing their mandates, which is why we came here. 

Q: Speak on the final document you intend to propound as a roadmap for a business and human rights framework to hand over to the Federal Government, the planned pillars inside, etc. How would you put it? 

I can tell you that we have already set up that standard. We have all the necessary documents. The only person without the document as I speak to you is the Borno State Government. At the federal level, we have these two documents, one of which is the national action plan on the protection of human rights. That is a human rights obligation of Nigeria under the Vienna Declaration. President Buhari approved this in April 2023. So instead of presenting another action plan on business and human rights to them, we included it as a chapter under this national action plan. So in passing this, they have passed the two of them. The implementation of this one is ongoing by all the ministries. It’s a national document for everyone, not just the Human Rights Commission. As the ministry of environment or information, there is a role for you to play here. But this one is a specific national human rights mechanism for business and human rights. It is under this one that we have established the national working group on business and human rights. This is the one we want to establish in Borno State. So for us, we have outlined this road map, and under it, we will first develop a consent note that we will hand over to the government on what they need to know and do. And when the government understudies that note, we will also include these processes. They will do stakeholder mapping to know who is who and who is doing what. After that, they will convene a state consultative forum on business and human rights, which will mandate the state government to go ahead and develop a state action plan on business and human rights. This action plan will take into consideration everything that is contextual to this state as it concerns the human rights of the people of the state. They will copy a lot from the national action plan, but they will also make their own specific Borno plans. And then the action plan will say who will belong to the state working group, and they will inaugurate the state working group. Then they will begin the process of implementation, where they will stipulate what they will do, such as the capacity building that must be done to ensure that businesses conform to the national human rights principles and standards. Across Nigeria, with the social challenges we are having, any company that decides to have social responsibility will go and bring bags of rice, ask people to queue up, and there will be a stampede. People will even die due to the struggles for palliatives, which are human rights violations. So we need to have a standard for what to do, and we are already developing one, especially when it comes to business compliance on the issues of social care. You don’t kill people while trying to help them.

Q: Cuts in… like what happened during the customs palliative saga? 

It’s not only Nigerian customs that make such mistakes; even churches do it. Churches say they are coming to help with food. You will not ask how many people will come; you did not issue tickets; nor did you ask for a central exit or entrance so that when the place is full, you will close the door. And then, you don’t have emergency medical response units in case anything happens. It’s a general Nigerian thing, even where we are now. If someone collapses in this hotel now, God forbid, I am sure they do not have a system to evacuate them. And if they are evacuating you, do they have ambulances or amenities to use? So it’s just a whole gamut of unsolved problems.

Q: Finally, if there is a violation of the UN guiding principles on human rights between now and December 2024, what is the guarantee that everything will be ready? 

A:…..cuts in. Everything depends on the state government. If they ask us to jump, we will ask how high you want to jump. So it’s up to them, but if they don’t have this state action plan, our own action plan will cover them. Because human rights are a federal thing, they cannot do state action plans for the protection of human rights because the Vienna Declaration is very clear about it. But they can do a state action plan on business and human rights because even the state government taxes and also regulates businesses.

Q: Alternative justices—speak on it—and judicial remedies—will they be embedded in this package of the action plan?

A: Alternative justices will be embedded in the state-based package on non-judicial remedies. There are state-based judicial mechanisms and non-judicial mechanisms. The state-based non-judicial mechanisms include the Human Rights Commission. The ulamas are non-state-based judicial mechanisms, and they can equally perform some functions with limited quasi-judicial roles. The good thing is that each of them can actually perform judiciary roles and award compensation. Like the HRC will award compensation based on its laws, if it’s the DSS or police that infringed on your rights, we will ask them to insert the same in their budget, and it will be paid to you. And I tell you, we have been successful in all this. But whether we speak about it enough or not, I can tell you we don’t. But like the special anti-robbery squad (SAS) panel, I can tell you that we paid over N480 million to 120 people for all the infringements that were incurred by their personnel in that incident. 

Interview:  NHRC paid over N480 million to 120 people for rights infringements after the SARS investigative panel saga, – Hilary Ogbonna.

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Kashim Shettima is focused, trying to bridge gaps across people, culture, and religion in Nigeria. – Dr. Bwala

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Kashim Shettima is focused, trying to bridge gaps across people, culture, and religion in Nigeria. – Dr. Bwala

Dr. James Bwala, PhD, is a media practitioner, consultant, and author. He is one of the closest media men to Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima. Ahead of the May 29 celebration of democracy day in Nigeria, he spoke to newsmen about his long-time relationship with the VP and why he writes in his own style to promote and defend Nigeria’s Vice President on many fronts and other sundry issues. NEWSng was there and sent an excerpt:

Q: Thank you for having us. It was indeed very important that we meet you. Can you please tell us about yourself?

A: I guess I am not in a hot seat. I really did not expect this question. It reminded me of some interview questions I was asked while I was seeking job opportunities with the NGO some time ago. But since this is not a job interview, I figured that I would relax and try not to be nervous. My name is James Bwala, as you all know. I am a journalist and have practiced in the media space for over two decades now. I studied mass communication for my first and second degree programs and earned my PhD in management with a specialty in disaster management. Currently, I run a media organization as the managing editor as well as managing public relations on behalf of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). I am also into politics, trying to follow in the footsteps of my principal, Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, who has graciously been a very good teacher and mentor. And I hope that my learning will bring positive fruits and add value to Nigeria’s politics at any given opportunity to make a mark and to sell the Nigerian dream in the renewed hope initiative of Mr. President.

Q: You are a prolific writer, and we are happy to say that you are doing well and encouraging young media professionals with your style. We have read a lot of writings from you defending and promoting the Vice President before, during, and even after the general elections. Do you have any political appointments in this government?

A: I just told you that the VP is my principal, whether or not I have an appointment in the government or not. My loyalty to the VP has been there for decades. He calls me brother, and I think he is an older brother I have who also stood with me in my darkest moments. He has demonstrated the brotherly love that I have heard preachers preach, and he never leaves me as would some older brothers do. I am happy that you noted that I have written several pieces on him. Some were promotional, while others were trying to defend both his public and private lives. Yes. I have been given a political appointment in this government, but that is not about me and Kashim Shettima. It was the reward system in a political circle when you played your part in the game and when your loyalty was tested and you gave results. For that also, I will remain grateful to the VP for choosing to consider me for such a political position. And like I said, he never leaves me. I will look up to him as that older brother and respect him. I will also always defend him in the media, where necessary.

Q: How long have you known the VP? 

A: About three decades, actually. I was raised in Kaduna, but I grew up in Borno State, which is my state. I am a bona fide citizen of Borno State, and I am proud of that. While growing up in Bullumkuttu, Abuja, in the city of Maiduguri, I happened to leave around the VP’s wife’s family residents. I became friends with some of Her Excellency’s brothers and sisters, and we attended the same Bullumkuttu Primary School in the 1980s. I knew Kashim Shettima around 1988, to be precise, but we became very close when he became commissioner under the Modu Sheriff administration and I was writing for the newspapers as a journalist. I think we became very close because we share the same attitude and vision. Our culture, books, and views of life are the same. So, I would say we think alike.

Q: How would you describe the VP’s activities in the last year of this administration, and do you see distractions?

A: Well, they are too numerous to mention his activities generally. For distractions, there are also numbers. However, the VP is focused. Remember he said in one of his many sayings during the campaign that you should stop throwing stones at every dog that barks at you or you may not reach your destination on time? So, I want to tell you that this is his posture toward distraction. And you can see that he remained focused, building on the renewed hope initiative of the government by trying to bridge gaps across people, culture, and religion. He has also been in and out of the country, connecting and networking to build relationships for security, the economy, and others. For every achievement, there is a working person, and the VP is one of those working to achieve the dreams of Mr. President and give Nigeria hope.

Q: Your writings speak volumes about the VP; do you also consult with him before you write?

A: No. I know him too well to read his lips, and I can also study his moods, especially his reactions to what I wrote. Like I said, he is my teacher and mentor, so I guess there is this chemistry of understanding what to do and what not to do between us, which came naturally. Secondly, I am a professional in my field with good experience in political writing. It is therefore easy for me to look at situations and determine with precision what I need to do as a professional. For someone like the VP, all I need to know are the vital signs, which are obligations to me because of the closeness. I watched his back media wise, and he does mine brotherly.

Q: Recently, you wrote defending the VP on the issue of 2027. Why do you think some people want him replaced? Did he offend those calling for his replacement?

A: You know, this is actually laughable. 

VP Kashim Shettima did not offend anybody, but the gang was politically motivated. For me, it is normal in politics to have those who want you there and those who are pushing for you to be out of place. But let me tell you something. Recently, the President appointed the Zenith Bank Chairman to lead the loan team. Jim Ovia was VP Shettima’s boss when he was still working in the bank. What does that tell you? Does it look like there is friction between the VP and his principal? The closeness between VP Kashim Shettima and the Zenith Bank Chairman is well known to Mr. President. As those people claim in their dreams that there is friction, I do not think we have been seeing this development coming. Mr. President is well educated and knows very well those he can work with. He has a history of gathering intellectuals around him. That is also the reason for choosing VP Kashim Shettima as his running mate and partner in the governance of Nigeria. Together, they have been doing tremendously well, and as I said in my writing, there will be no replacement as suggested by those doomsayers.

READ ALSO:https://newsng.ng/the-plight-of-farida/

Q: You sounded very confident about the political future and the likely play for Tinubu and Kashim Shettima in 2027. What is giving you such confidence, as in some of your writings?

A: I don’t know, actually. But I keep having my dreams, and I believe in them. It has happened in the past and has come to be true. It is happening again, and I keep my belief. So many people fighting over 2027 think they are gods. This administration has only been around for about a year now. If they think they have all it takes to govern better than what the current occupants of the seat of power are doing, I hope that as Nigerians they should be kind to render support through their vision to help Nigeria develop well. The president and his vice president are calling on those who have vision for the development of Nigeria to come forward with suggestions. They must not be in position before they can bring out their good road map to make Nigeria better. If they are waiting to come to a position before they give suggestions or bring their ideas to the table, then I would suggest that those are not thinking of making Nigeria great but are working towards their selfish desires to occupy seats for the betterment of their families and not Nigeria.

Q: Can you at least mention those you think are already fighting over 2027? And those calling for the replacement of the VP?

A: My friends, we know the writing on the walls. You go and read some of the writing floating in the newspaper spaces. We have over one hundred live newspapers in the country, and they have been reporting issues recently. Engaged in some of these newspapers, you can come up with names likely to be those you are looking for. I do not know any of them other than those I have read through on the pages of the newspapers, and I believe you can do the same.

Q:. On May 29, this administration will be celebrating one year. Do you think there are things to celebrate?

A: Well, if I may ask you, do you think there are no things to celebrate? You see, sometimes we ask questions for which we already know the answers. Of course, there are thousands of things to celebrate about Nigeria. I hope you have been following the various achievements made by our military, the police, and other security agencies in the areas of insecurity in the country. I hope you have written about the successes in the economic sector. There are several achievements in health, agriculture, the road, and what have you. I may not have time to mention others, but we have days counting to May 29, and you can do us the favor of going around to hunt on the successes and achievements of the Tinubu and Kashim Shettima administrations since their coming to power on May 29, 2023. Nigerians are eager to hear from you because they can count on you, and I urge you to be fair in your reports.

Q: On a final note, what do you think this government should do based on the assessments of people on what they did or did not do for Nigerians and how to improve on their promises?

A: First of all, let me make it clear that you are asking the wrong question here because I am not a member of the economic team of this administration. Secondly, what I hear people saying may be different from what you hear that people are saying, so do not expect me to give an answer to what is going on about what you hear. However, I can speak for what I hear, and that is a positive note on the many challenges that this administration was able to sum up. Two key issues have been on the board since this administration came on board on May 29, 2023. That is the issue of insecurity and Nigeria’s economy. I think that you would agree with me that the Tinubu-Shettima partnership has done creditably well in tackling these menaces in the areas of security and economy. If you do agree with me, then I can tell you that the government by measurements has done well and should be given the passing mark for demonstrating rear leadership.

Kashim Shettima is focused, trying to bridge gaps across people, culture, and religion in Nigeria. – Dr. Bwala

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