Jos, Nigeria – April 16, 2025 — Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has announced sweeping security measures following a wave of deadly attacks across the state, including the massacre of at least 50 people in Kimakpa village, Miango district, on April 14.
In a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, Mutfwang described the killings as “coordinated acts of terror” intended to displace communities and instill fear.
“Enough is enough,” the governor declared. “Plateau shall not be overrun by fear, nor shall we accept this culture of bloodshed as the new normal.”
Key Measures Announced:
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Ban on night grazing of cattle
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Prohibition of cattle transportation by vehicle after 7pm
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Statewide restriction on motorcycle use from 7pm to 6am until further notice
Mutfwang said the new directives are effective immediately, as the government steps up efforts to restore peace and enforce the rule of law.
“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.”
“Not an Isolated Conflict”
Governor Mutfwang rejected the narrative that the violence is a result of sporadic farmer-herder clashes, calling the attacks “systematic and premeditated” with alleged backing from external sponsors.
His comments follow the April 14 assault on Kimakpa, where survivors say gunmen, speaking the Fulani language, stormed the village around 10:00 pm, killing indiscriminately.
Heartbreaking Accounts
Peter John, a 25-year-old survivor, recounted how he escaped through the roof of his family home, only to witness his sister, her daughter, and other relatives slaughtered.
“They shot and killed my younger sister and her daughter right in front of me,” he told AFP from his hospital bed.
His nephew, just seven years old, lay nearby with machete wounds to the neck and head.
Jessica John, another local, described how her son, Saryie, was shot while checking on the family after fleeing an initial raid. His friend was killed instantly.
“We called the vigilantes, but it was too late,” she said. Security forces had earlier been present in the area, but withdrew before the attack began.
Ethnic and Religious Tensions
Plateau has long been plagued by conflict between mostly Christian farming communities and predominantly Muslim Fulani herders, fueled by climate change, dwindling resources, and illegal land grabs. The recent violence, however, has taken on a new, more organized dimension, residents and officials say.
Calls for Community Involvement
Governor Mutfwang urged communities to support security efforts by organizing legal night patrols in collaboration with official forces.
Despite public outcry and government pledges, no arrests have been made in connection with the Kimakpa killings or previous attacks in Bokkos and Mangu.
Mutfwang warned that allowing the violence to persist would threaten the state’s very existence:
“This is about our survival. We must defend our land, our people, and our future.”
