Military holding our members over self-defence – Plateau coalition

A coalition of the Berom ethnic nationality in Plateau State has accused the military of holding eight of its members for defending themselves during attacks by terrorist Fulani jihadist elements.

The coalition also alleged that over 500 were killed in their different communities between November 2025 and April 2026 by bandits and terrorists.

The coalition comprising  Berom Diaspora Coalition, alongside the Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation, Berom Youth Moulders, Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation and the Berom Women Development Association, made the allegation on Tuesday during a press conference in Jos over the lingering gunmen attacks in the state.

The text of the press conference, themed: “Reclaiming Our Lost Ancestral Lands and Resettlement of Our People,” was read on the coalition’s behalf by Barry Barnanas Dazih.

“Between November 2025 and April 2026, over 500 people have been brutally killed, some maimed, houses and farmlands worth millions of naira destroyed without provocation, by terrorist Fulani jihadist elements,” the coalition disclosed.

“In fact, the killings in Berom land is like a script from a horror movie, with death stalking innocent Nigerians on a daily basis.”

According to the group, the attacks have spread from Gwol (Barkin Ladi), Riyom, Jos South, Bokkos, and Bassa to the heart of the Plateau State capital.

“The terrorists have taken the onslaught to the heart of the Plateau State capital, Jos city, with the March 29th, Easter attack that claimed about 30 innocent lives at Angwan Rukuba in Jos North,” the statement further read.

It added: “Without prejudice to Muslims, those attacking, killing and sacking our villages are Fulani terrorists jihadists.”

The coalition stressed that killings have continued unabated in Fan, Heipang, Kassa, Jol, Shonong, Gyel, Danwal and many other Berom villages, noting that “in almost all those killings, there were early warnings.”

“We had earlier raised an alarm that over 70 Berom villages have been displaced, with some occupied by the Fulani Islamic terrorists,” it said.

“This new wave of attacks from November 2025 to date has created a worse dimension of humanitarian crisis, thereby increasing the number of orphans, widows, homeless and vulnerable people.”

The group decried what it called “double standards” by security agencies.

“It is, however, shocking that where government fails in securing lives of citizens, those who are bold enough to go on self-defence when attacked are haunted and arrested, and labelled terrorists by security agencies,” the coalition said.

“We want to ask security agencies why they are unable to go after the terrorists/ bandits whenever our people are attacked and killed, but find it easy to arrest our vulnerable and helpless people and label them terrorists when a cow dies of alleged poisoning or cattle rustling.”

Citing Section 33(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, the coalition said self-defence is recognised under Nigerian law.

“This section permits the use of reasonably necessary force to protect oneself, family, or property from unlawful violence attack, even if it results in the death of the attacker,” it stated.

“We therefore demand the unconditional release of our people arrested for defending themselves without further delay.”

Also speaking at the press conference, the National Secretary General of BECO, Chollom Gyang, and the National President, Berom Youths Moulders Association, Solomon Mwantiri, condemned the killings and disclosed that eight of their members are currently detained by the military for self-defence.

They identified those arrested as: Gyang Dantoro, Pam Dalyop, Jacob Musa, Femi Baudung, Samson Davou, Yakubu Dalyop, Vincent Adamu and Choji Mwanvwang, who is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

The coalition urged the military to “release them without further delay,” adding that “by such action, security agencies have falsely tagged our people, rustlers without conviction by any court of competent jurisdiction.”

When contacted over the allegations concerning the arrest of the eight persons for self-defence, the spokesman for the Joint Military Taskforce in Plateau, Operation Enduring Peace, Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, declined to comment on the matter.

“Until I see the text of the press conference, I will make any statement,” Oteh said.

The group also faulted the government’s response to the crisis, saying assurances by President Bola Tinubu and Governor Caleb Mutfwang “to bring the killings to an end is yet to yield any dividends as the terrorists have become more daring and emboldened.

“Citizens deserve protection and not ‘decent burial’,” the statement lamented.

“Mass burial and the erection of a monumental tomb with names of victims of terrorism is a stark reminder of the wickedness done to our people.”

On resettlement, the coalition said the Plateau State Government had set up committees on displaced persons, but “this is yet to see the light of day in any community, while our people have remained displaced, destitute in our own land with the terrorists occupying our ancestral land.”

It further called on the Federal Government to declare Mahanga in Riyom LGA “a terrorist hideout and Fulani terrorist enclave,” describing it as a “major stronghold for armed Fulani militant groups and bandits responsible for attacks across the state.

“The clamour for state police is more urgent than before, but we are worried at the slow pace at which the matter is being handled,” the coalition bemoaned.

They appealed to the international community and human rights organisations “to, as a matter of urgency, come to end the killings in our land and restore us to our ancestral homes and lands that are being taken away from us by terrorists.”