Fulani militias, herders responsible for attacks, killings in Plateau – Fact-Finding Committee

Published

5 months ago

September 19, 2025

A fact-finding committee set up by Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang to find the immediate and remote causes of the incessant attacks and killings in the state have identified armed Fulani militias and herder groups as responsible for the violence.

Chairman of the committee, Major General Rogers Ibe Nicholas (rtd), while submitting the report to the governor on Thursday, said his committee drew its conclusion after meeting with various ethnic nationalities and interest groups across the state and also visited all the troubled communities to get firsthand information about the violence and how to provide enduring peace in the state.

The high-powered fact-finding committee also revealed that the Fulani militias and herders who carry out the attacks in the state often come in from neighbouring states like Bauchi, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Taraba States, and after striking, sneak away, leaving a trail of blood and sorrow.

Gen. Rogers, who spoke when handing over the report to Mutfwang, said the perpetrators of the violent attacks that has left over 12,000 people dead and over 500 communities desolate, said all the communities the committee visited consistently identified armed Fulani militias and herder groups as the key aggressors.

He stated that in some local government areas like Shendam and Quan’pan, local disputes involving boundaries, ethnic rivalries, political competition, and youth militias also contributed to violence.

“The committee received a report of disturbances by bandits who are said to have established their cells in two Nasarawa State villages bordering Quan’pan and forcing Plateau communities in Quan’pan to flee,” Gen. Rogers said.

He noted that in some councils, the committee discovered the presence of bandits’ cells linked to suspected extremist organizations.

“In Wase and Kanam, the presence of bandits’ cells with suspected links to extremist organizations was reported.

“The motives driving these attacks are multiple, ranging from control of land and resources, to territorial expansion, ethno-religious dominance, political destabilization, and outright criminal profiteering through kidnap-for-ransom and cattle rustling,” he said.

The report also traced routes that the bandits take to infiltrate the state, stating that the porous borders which include entry points from Nasarawa through Wamba, Lafia, and Awe also aid in the easy access of the communities by the attackers.

“From Kaduna through Lere, Kaura, and Sanga; from Bauchi through Toro, Tafawa Balewa, Bagoro, and Alkaleri; and from Taraba through Ibi and Karim Lamido. These routes are largely unmonitored and exploited by attackers for quick strikes and retreats,” the report said.

Gov. Mutfwang who received the report at the new Government House, Rayfield, Jos, promised to implement all the recommendations towards achieving lasting peace in the state while reiterating earlier calls to political and religious leaders and political in the state to rise in defence of the Plateau heritage and work toward its overall development.

“Receiving this important report is a journey towards peace and putting into proper perspectives the true nature of the violent attacks that have plagued Plateau in the last two and half decades.

“When I took over and began to tell the story of what was happening on the Plateau, I was called names.

“Therefore, I sat down and told myself that for us to convince the authorities and Nigerians with the truth about the nature of crisis in Plateau, we need men and women of proven integrity who will gather, analyze and bring into the public space what has been happening in the last two and half decades,” the governor emphasized.

Up Next

Soldier Sentenced To Death By Hanging For Murder Of Keke (Tricycle) Rider

Don't Miss

Bauchi housewife burns minor’s private part with hot knife

Click to comment

Gunmen k!ll President General of Ogidi community and one other in Anambra.

Published

4 hours ago

February 7, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cultists, have k!lled a community leader and one other person in Anambra State.

The President-General of Ogidi community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ikwuka Okoye, popularly known as Anumili (pictured above), was k!lled on Friday, Feb. 6.

The attack was alleged to have been carried out by members of a rival cult group in revenge for the de@th of their leader, who was arrested and k!lled by local security operatives.

During the attack, which took place at the School Field, Ogidi, another man whose identity has yet to be ascertained was also gunned down.

The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a press statement on Saturday.

Ikenga said the incident is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.

He said, “The Anambra State Police Command regrets the murd£r of the President-General of the Ogidi community and one other person. The incident, which occurred on the evening of February 6, 2026, at the School Field, Ogidi, is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.

“Following the report, police operatives swiftly took over the scene of the incident and commenced investigations. The command is currently working with eyewitness accounts and other available intelligence to identify and arrest the perpetrators.

“The Anambra State Police Command assures members of the public that all efforts are being intensified to bring those responsible to justice.

“Residents are urged to remain calm and cooperate with the police as investigations continue.

“Further developments will be communicated in due course.”

Police bust syndicate behind nude photo blackmail in Lagos

Published

19 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Men of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, have apprehended three suspects who allegedly run a cyber blackmail and extortion scheme in the state.

According to the spokesperson of the unit, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, the suspects get a hold of their victims explicit photos and then threaten to release them if a ransom is not paid.

He said that the suspects, two males and a female, were apprehended after a petition was filed by a complainant who reported being repeatedly threatened by unknown individuals demanding money.

“The complainant received several phone calls in which the callers threatened to release her nude photographs to the public if she failed to pay them. Acting out of fear and emotional distress, she transferred money to the suspects.

The situation escalated when the suspects demanded an additional N10 million, prompting her to formally petition the police,” he said

The police imagemaker state dthat upon receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Mr Kayode Ojapinwa, ordered the immediate deployment of operatives to investigate the matter.

“The investigation led to the arrest of the three suspects. Investigations revealed that one of the suspects gained unlawful access to the complainant’s mobile device and fraudulently transferred her nude photographs to his own device. Further findings indicated that he conspired with the other suspects and other accomplices currently at large to demand and receive money from the complainant in several tranches,” he said

According to him, the suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The image maker said that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and to recover all proceeds of the alleged crime.

Catholic Priest Collapses And D!es In Front Of Congregation While Walking To Tabernacle To Return Holy Communion

Published

23 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

A Catholic priest has tragically passed away after suddenly collapsing in front of the congregation during Sunday mass.

The tragic incident took place last Sunday, February 1 in Wiesmath in the district of Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

Shortly after administering Holy Communion, 59-year-old priest Raimund Beisteiner was about to return the host to the tabernacle when he “suddenly” collapsed, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of Vienna.

“Despite immediate professional assistance, he di£d in the church,” the statement said.

The mayor of Wiesmath, Erich Rasner, had also attended the Mass with many other believers and witnessed the dramatic scenes.

The shock in Wiesmath at the loss of the popular priest is great. Beisteiner had shaped the spiritual life of the parish for almost two decades and was highly regarded far beyond the community.

Rasner praised him as an “extremely conscientious, sensitive priest” and also emphasized the personal loss of a friendship that had grown over many years.

A prayer service was organized at short notice for the late priest. It was attended by numerous priests from the deanery as well as Archbishop Josef Grünwidl.