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Silent Triggers of Conflict: The Poisoning of 28 Cattle and Another Unfolding Crisis in Plateau

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Silent Triggers of Conflict: The Poisoning of 28 Cattle and Another Unfolding Crisis in Plateau

By Zagazola Makama

In the quiet, hilly expanse of Zamura community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, a tragic scene unfolded on April 16. 28 cows, while grazing under the afternoon sun, dropped dead allegedly poisoned by unknown individuals. What may appear to be an isolated incident is which doesn’t appear in news or make headlines, in fact, a window into the deeper and more enduring fault lines that continue to plague Plateau State.

This was just few days after cattle were rustled in Murish village, Mangu Local Government Area, by a group of about 30 youths. One of the herders, 21-year-old Abdullahi Suleiman, remains missing. Of the rustled livestock, only 11 have been recovered. No trace of the perpetrators or arrest were made. At the time, this incidences were taken place, the people of Kimakpa Village in Miango District have not overcome the aftermath of the brutal massacre of innocent men, women and children who were attacked in their sleep by what the government agencies said were unknown gunmen. But are the perpetrators really not known,”? NO.

The recurring cycle of these violence and reprisal in parts of Plateau is often viewed through the lens of religious, land occupation and ethnic tensions. But it is not about land. It is no longer credible to suggest that these attacks are merely about land grabbing or cattle grazing disputes. However, beneath these headlines lie silent triggers of unreported incidences that stoke anger, fuel mistrust, and perpetuate conflict in communities already teetering on the edge.

The individuals who are perpetrating these attacks are known. They lived within the communities. Yet, no one is willing to point fingers in the right direction. No one dares to break the silence and no arrest will be made at the end of the day. And even when perpetrators are caught in the act, top officials, traditional rulers and the security agencies will always find a way to disposed the cases without allowing justice to prevail.

The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has recently emphasized the urgent need for a shift from reactive disaster response to proactive, anticipatory action, describing it as a national security imperative. Ribadu who made the remarks at a high-level workshop on “Coordinated Risk Monitoring and Communication for Floods and Other Disasters,” held at the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC), under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on Wednesday April 16, 2025.

He warned that poorly managed disasters could trigger cascading security risks, including mass displacement, the destruction of critical infrastructure, and the deepening of societal fragilities. “Unmanaged disasters exacerbate insecurity and fuel vulnerabilities. If we fail to prepare, we risk overwhelming our response systems when crises occur,” Ribadu added.

The reason crises continue is because no one is ever held accountable,” said a local elder in Miango District. “Whether it’s a poisoned cow or those who burnt villages, people act with impunity, knowing nothing will happen in the end. The most concerning aspect of incidents like this is not just the loss, but the aftermath. For pastoralist communities, cattle are not just animals. They represent livelihood, heritage, and sustenance. To lose nearly thirty animals in one day without warning or confrontation represents a devastating economic and emotional loss. For many herding families, this is the equivalent of losing their farms, homes, and life’s savings in a single act,”he said.

In Plateau State, mistrust between farming and herding communities has persisted for decades. Efforts at peacebiulding whether through state government panels, non-governmental interventions, or community dialogues often fail to address the granular realities of life in rural conflict prone areas. These include issues of land access, grazing routes, resource competition, and crucially, justice on both sides. For many in Plateau, peace remains elusive not because of a lack of effort, but because of the absence of consistent, fair, and timely responses to incidents that ignite violence by the state government and other response agencies. When cattle are poisoned, and perpetrators go unidentified; when farmers or communities are attacked, and no arrests are made each failure builds a wall of silence and suspicion between neighbours.

Security may contain violence temporarily, but true peace requires addressing the root causes. In Kimakpa, Kimakpa, Zamura and other parts of Bassa, these causes are deeply embedded in the daily lives of ordinary people farmers and herders, youth and elders, victims and survivors.

As Plateau State continues its journey toward recovery and reconciliation, incidents like the mass cattle poisoning are stark reminders that peace is not just the absence of gunfire. It is the presence of fairness, of justice, and of deliberate efforts to dismantle the small but deadly acts that make violence feel inevitable.

Until those foundations are built and built in truth the crisis in Plateau may remain unsolved.

Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region.

Silent Triggers of Conflict: The Poisoning of 28 Cattle and Another Unfolding Crisis in Plateau

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Three Bandits Killed as Terrorists Attack Chediya Community in Tsafe LGA

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Three Bandits Killed as Terrorists Attack Chediya Community in Tsafe LGA

By: Zagazola Makama

At least three suspected terrorists were neutralised on Sunday following a violent attack on Chediya community in Agarin ward of Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara State.

According to local sources, armed bandits stormed the village in the early hours, opening fire and setting several houses ablaze. The residents, however, mounted stiff resistance, engaging the attackers in a fierce confrontation that resulted in the death of three of the assailants.

While the villagers succeeded in repelling the attackers, the bandits also burned down several homes and forced many families to flee for safety.

“They came heavily armed and started shooting sporadically. Some of our youth confronted them, and in the fight, we managed to kill three of them,” said a resident who asked not to be named for security reasons.

Three Bandits Killed as Terrorists Attack Chediya Community in Tsafe LGA

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Women engineers urge intensified action to tackle plastic pollution

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Women engineers urge intensified action to tackle plastic pollution

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), on Monday, called for urgent global action to tackle plastic pollution causing environmental crisis.

APWEN, under its “STEM for All” initiative, North-East zone, made the call, while commemorating the 2025 World Environment Day in Gombe.

Speaking virtually, President of APWEN, Engr. Adebisi Osim, said it is imperative to encourage recycling of plastics, as part of measures to reduce pollution.

Osim noted that the amount of plastics manufactured annually for use had made it necessary for urgent actions to be taken, to ensure a cleaner and safer environment.

“Today’s theme, “End Plastic Pollution” is not just a catchy phrase, It is a wake-up call; a global one and we are answering that call, not with panic, but with STEM-driven solutions and people-centered action.

“According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the world produces over 430 million tonnes of plastic annually, and over two-thirds of that becomes waste.

“Alarmingly, less than 10 per cent is recycled, and the rest clogs our drains, litters our streets, chokes our rivers, and poisons marine life.

“Here in Nigeria, the World Bank estimates that Lagos alone generates 13,000 metric tonnes of waste per day, and 15 per cent of that is plastic.

“We see it daily in pure water sachets lining our gutters, single-use bags littering markets, and microplastics infiltrating our food chains,” she said
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Osim called on stakeholders to invest more in recycling the plastics towards reducing the need for new plastic production, which will in turn lower greenhouse gas emission.

She assured that state chapters are collaborating with young people, to design plastic alternatives, using local materials, and to build waste-sorting systems using simple robotics.

Osim added that the chapters will also explore the conduct of STEM fairs, which are focused on sustainable innovation.

In the same vein, Chairman of the Gombe chapter of APWEN, Engr. Deborah Danladi, urged stakeholders to invest in plastic waste recycling, to save the environment, as well as create jobs and wealth for youths.

Danladi also underscored the need for more action and sensitisation to ensure collective approach to addressing the menace of plastic pollution.

Women engineers urge intensified action to tackle plastic pollution

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UN Agencies Drum Support for Adequate Investment in MSMEs

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UN Agencies Drum Support for Adequate Investment in MSMEs

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations (UN) agencies in Nigeria have hammered on the need for adequate investment in the development of Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to advance economic growth in the country.

The agencies disclosed this during the commemoration ceremony of the 2025 MSMEs Day on Monday in Abuja.

The event was jointly organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Director, UNIDO Sub-regional Office, Abuja, Mr. Philbert Johnson, who was represented by National Programme Officer at UNIDO, Mr. Reuben Bamidele,, said that MSMEs role in nation building cannot be underestimated, therefore the need for adequate investment to ensure their sustainable growth is of uppermost importance.

Johnson said: “We are gathered together today to discuss proper ways to promote innovation and growth within the MSMEs sector.

“In Nigeria, as we know not less than 40million MSMEs are making huge contribution to the economic growth of the country, by providing employment and serving as means of livelihood for people.

“MSMEs, thereby, contribute to the growth of Gross Domestic Products across sectors of the country’s economy. We gathered to dissect the challenges MSMEs face and also, to work closely together towards achieving sustainable growth.”

The ILO Country Representative, Dr Vanessa Phala, stressed the need for strategic measures to be taken to bolster MSMEs impact on the nation’s economy.

Phala, who was represented by ILO’s National Project Coordinator for the Social Dimension of Ecological Transition, Stephen Agugua, said: “We look at how MSMEs can drive the future of the economy through job creation and employment. When you think of job creation and employment that is where ILO comes in.

“MSMEs are key to the growth of every economic sphere: Through this dialogue platform ILO will know the challenges MSMEs are facing and look at pathways for ensuring sustainable solutions collectively.”

The UNDP Deputy-Director, Ms Varsha Redkar-Palepu, represented the National Programme Specialist and Trade Focal Point at UNDP by Claire Henshaw,, described MSMEs as pivotal to nation building.

She noted that MSMEs form the foundation of inclusive and sustainable development in Nigeria, “MSMEs are vital engines for job creation, innovation and social mobilisation, particularly for women and youths. While operating on margins of formal economic systems, we need to put MSMEs at the centre of our development.

“In Nigeria and across Africa, MSMEs holds the key to transforming economic opportunities to meaningful development and the ambition into tangible outcomes,” Phala said.

On his part, Managing-Director of Prohealth, a private organisation, Dr Chinedu Nnabuihe who spoke on behalf of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), commended the UN agencies for putting the event together.

According to him, the event is dedicated to the invaluable role MSMEs play in advancing innovation, creating jobs, increasing inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the country.

“In Nigeria, MSMEs are the engine of our economy, driving local production, supporting livelihood and contributing significantly to national GDPs. This is amidst challenges posed by economic situation, limited access to finance and infrastructure.
“Nigeria MSMEs have continued to demonstrate resilience, creativity and determination. At NECA we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering an enabling environment in supporting MSMEs development,” Nnabuihe said.

The event attracted stakeholders from Small and Medium Enterprises Development (SMEDAN), Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nigeria Association of of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Others include, National Insurance Commission (NICOM), Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

Highpoint of the event was visit by the stakeholders to the exhibition stand of MSMEs, overview of UNDP engagement with MSMEs, government agencies’ engagement with MSMEs and WIP-intellectual property for MSMEs.
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