‘Land grabbing, ethnic tensions, farmer-herder reprisals behind recurring violence in Plateau’ – Gen Nicholas
Chairman of the Special Fact-Finding Committee set up by Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, to investigate the remote causes of persistent attacks, killings, and destruction in the state, Gen. Rogers Ibe Nicholas (Rtd), has revealed that land grabbing, ethnic tensions, as well as farmer-herder clashes and reprisals are behind the incessant and recurring violence in the state.
Gen. Nicholas, a former Commander of the Operation Safe Haven task force, disclosed this while speaking at a special security conference organized by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Plateau Security in Abuja. He said his committee, after extensive interactions with residents, victims, community leaders, and traditional and religious leaders in most of the crisis-prone areas, concluded that the causes of the crisis are far deeper than many are made to believe.
The retired Army General stated that the lingering crisis in Plateau State is a “complex web of historical grievances, ethnic tensions, land disputes, open grazing conflicts, systemic poverty, illegal mining, youth unemployment, porous borders, and a fragile criminal justice system.”
“One of the key drivers of this crisis is the cycle of reprisal attacks, farmer-herder conflicts that escalate into community-wide violence,” he noted.
Gen. Nicholas, who shared firsthand insights from his tenure as the Operation Safe Haven Commander, said managing security in the volatile communities can be achieved if the government and security agencies prioritize trust-building and community engagement, host town hall meetings with local and Fulani leaders, and introduce community-based compensation systems for incidents such as cattle rustling and crop destruction.
To ensure that enduring peace returns to the state, Gen. Nicholas said the fact-finding committee recommended the establishment of Peace and Security Committees in every community, headed by traditional rulers and inclusive of all ethnic and religious groups.
“The committee also recommended a strict enforcement and review of the Plateau State Anti-Land Grabbing Law (2022),” he said.
Other recommendations, according to the Chairman, include: “The creation of designated grazing routes and ranching areas in collaboration with local authorities; strengthening of the criminal justice system with stiffer penalties for cattle rustling, illegal arms possession, and farmland destruction; and the formation of an Interstate Joint Security Task Force to coordinate efforts with neighbouring states, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Bauchi, to curb cross-border attacks.”
Others include the integration of local vigilante groups into the formal security architecture, such as Operation Rainbow, to promote accountability and professionalism, as well as improved rural communication infrastructure to enable rapid response to attacks, legislative oversight, and stakeholder engagement.