Reported by Afilawos Magana Sur, investigative Journalist at Sele Media Africa.
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria — Anger and grief have surged across Plateau State communities after the reported killing of a 12- year- old boy, widely described by local residents as a Christian, in an attack amid escalating ethnic-herder violence that has beleaguered the central Nigerian state for years. The incident has reignited public demands for accountability from military leadership and intensified scrutiny of Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis.According to residents and community figures, the child was killed when suspected militias — identified locally as armed herders — hacked him to death during a violent raid on his village. While official confirmation and full details of the incident remain limited and under investigation by authorities, the killing has sharply focused attention on the broader pattern of insecurity affecting Plateau’s rural areas. Local youth groups and civil society organisations have condemned the killing as emblematic of an entrenched failure by national and state security forces to protect vulnerable communities. Protesters have called for the removal of the Army commander overseeing operations in Plateau, accusing the military of inaction in the face of repeated raids and attacks by armed groups.Plateau State has endured years of deadly clashes between predominantly Fulani herders and farming communities over land use, resources, and ethnic identity — dynamics that often take on complex religious overtones in public discourse. These conflicts have repeatedly triggered armed incursions into villages, mass casualties, and displacement of civilians. Amnesty International and other rights groups have documented hundreds of deaths and widespread insecurity in the region over recent years, with some observers warning that long-standing grievances have been compounded by insufficient state response and weak law enforcement. AP News the government’s view — echoed in statements by President Bola Tinubu and military officials — frames many of these attacks as embedded in herder-farmer confrontations rather than targeted religious persecution, describing them as part of broader communal and resource-based conflicts intensified by climate stress and governance gaps. Nonetheless, the recent killing of a child has sharpened public anger and underscored deep mistrust in security institutions. AP News security analysts say the challenge in Plateau reflects a broader national dilemma: armed militias exploit porous borders, difficult terrain, and overstretched forces, enabling cycles of retaliation and shielding perpetrators from rapid arrest or prosecution. The government has repeatedly pledged investigations into specific attacks, but arrests and convictions have been sporadic, and communities often report delayed or inadequate military responses. As families mourn and calls for justice grow louder, human rights groups are urging independent inquiries and stronger protection measures for civilians across conflict-affected regions in north-central Nigeria. Sources: Reuters: Nigeria deploys troops after 170 killed in deadly Kwara village attack. reuters.com; The Associated Press: Attack by gunmen leaves at least 40 people dead in Nigeria. AP News.
Afilawos Magana Sur is a journalist from Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, currently based in Bauchi metropolis. He is known for his commitment to accurate, ethical, and responsible journalism, with a focus on reporting issues of public relevance and community development.
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