The Middle Belt, encompassing states like Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Southern Kaduna, Borno, Gombe, and Adamawa, has long been a hotspot for violence. However, the coalition’s report paints a grim picture of escalating atrocities: targeted attacks, massacres, and abductions that have claimed countless lives, left survivors traumatized, and displaced entire communities. The perpetrators, according to the coalition, are not only emptying villages but replacing locals with imported settlers, fundamentally altering the region’s demographic and political landscape.
The coalition identifies three key triggers fueling the current wave of violence. First, the upcoming national census, which they allege is being exploited by terrorist groups to seize territory—ensuring that displaced locals are not counted, thus handing control to the occupiers. Second, the 2027 elections, where the violence could disenfranchise Middle Belt voters, reshaping electoral outcomes. Third, the recent establishment of the Livestock Ministry, which some interpret as a green light for pastoralists to take over land, further inflaming tensions. Adding to the fear, new terrorist fronts led by groups like Lakurawa and Mahmuda have emerged in Niger and Kwara states, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict.
The coalition’s analysis reveals a chilling pattern. The affected states are landlocked, lacking direct access to international borders, making escape or external aid difficult. Over 20,000 square kilometers across Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau States have been forcibly seized, with the displaced replaced by new settlers. This methodical displacement, the coalition argues, is a deliberate attempt to erase indigenous communities and redraw electoral maps—a campaign they label as ethnic cleansing with devastating implications for Nigeria’s food security, as the Middle Belt is a traditional breadbasket for the country.
“This is not just a security crisis; it’s an attack on the future of elective government in Nigeria,” the coalition stated, emphasizing the need for immediate action. They are urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy federal resources to address the region-wide violence, which no single state can tackle alone. Their 12-point action plan calls for coordinated strategies, including a regional security framework led by Middle Belt governors, consultation with border state leaders, and the return of displaced communities to their lands with full executive backing.
The coalition also proposes modern solutions, such as integrating geospatial technology and drones to enhance security operations, alongside an intelligence framework that leverages local knowledge to prevent attacks. They advocate for inter-community security cooperation to bridge ethnic and religious divides and reforms to the Fire Arms Act of 2004, allowing threatened communities to legally defend themselves under supervision—a response to the overwhelming firepower of attackers.
Beyond security, the coalition addresses cultural and political injustices. They demand the restoration of illegally deposed chiefs and scrapped chiefdoms, particularly in Kaduna, where the previous administration under Governor Nasir El-Rufai allegedly dismantled traditional structures like the Adara chiefdom. Citing Article 8(2) of the Rome Statute, they classify the destruction of cultural heritage as a war crime, calling for its reversal.
Judicial accountability is another priority, with the coalition urging swift trials for perpetrators to deter further violence. They also propose a Special Crisis Accountability Bureau (SCAB) to ensure justice, involving top security officials under the Chief of Defence Staff and National Security Adviser. Additionally, they stress the need to protect food security and guarantee voting rights for displaced communities, pressing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure no one is disenfranchised.
The press release, signed by organizations like the House of Justice, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, The Para-Mallan Peace Foundation, the Southern Kaduna Resilience Fund, to mention but a few underscores their readiness to collaborate with authorities. They aim to provide evidence and support sustainable solutions to what they describe as a political crisis with profound humanitarian consequences.
As Nigeria grapples with this escalating crisis, the coalition’s plea is clear: President Tinubu must act decisively to secure the Middle Belt, protect its people, and preserve the nation’s democratic integrity. The stakes, they warn, could not be higher.