Following a series of deadly attacks in Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has banned night grazing of cattle and placed restrictions on motorcycle movement across the state.
In a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, the governor said the recent attacks were “coordinated acts of terror” aimed at forcing people out of their ancestral homes.
He 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.”
Mutfwang announced several new measures:
– Night grazing of cattle is banned.
– Transporting cattle by vehicle after 7pm is now prohibited.
– Use of motorcycles is restricted from 7pm to 6am across the state until further notice.
He added, “Plateau shall not be overrun by fear, nor shall we accept this culture of bloodshed as the new normal. My administration is intensifying efforts to protect our people and enforce the rule of law across all local governments.”
At least 50 people were killed in Kimakpa village, Miango District, Bassa Local Government Area on April 14, when armed men stormed the village around 10pm.
Peter John, a 25-year-old survivor of the attack, said the gunmen broke into his family’s house late at night. He escaped by climbing onto the roof, but his sister, her daughter, his elder brother, and a nine-month-old niece were killed.
“They shot and killed my younger sister and her daughter right in front of me,” he said, while receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
Another resident, Diwe Gado Diwe, 41, who lost a cousin in the attack, said he was called by his sister when the violence started, but it was too dangerous to return to the village.
“She told me not to come,” Diwe said. “I tried calling the vigilante group, but the line didn’t go through.”
According to him, one of the first victims was a vigilante member on patrol.
Jessica John, 45, was also at the hospital, waiting beside her son, Saryie John, who was injured. A bullet was lodged in his chest, and he was awaiting surgery. His friend, who returned with him to check on family members, was shot dead.
Many survivors said the attackers spoke the Fulani language and shouted religious phrases during the attack.
Mutfwang said, “This is not an isolated conflict between farmers and herders. What we are witnessing is a systematic and premeditated campaign.” He also said he believes the killers have sponsors behind them.
He called on local vigilante groups to work closely with security forces and begin night patrols to protect communities.
Despite past efforts, security forces had left Kimakpa before the attack began, survivors said.
The Plateau crisis has deep roots in land disputes and tensions between farmers and herders, worsened by climate change, poor security, and years of mistrust. Most of the farmers are Christian, while many herders are Muslim, giving the conflict a religious and ethnic side.
As the state mourns another tragedy, Governor Mutfwang has vowed not to allow fear to take over Plateau.
