2. Description of security situation per state
2.20 Plateau state
2.20.3 Recent security trends and impact on the population
Nigeria Watch reported that, in 2020, Plateau was the state with the second highest number of fatalities (106) due to herders-farmers clashes in the country. It also stated that, while fatalities from clashes, Plateau was the one of the states with the highest fatalities (44) due to ethno-communal clashes, although the numbers of fatalities from such clashes decreased in 2020 in comparison to 2019.1519
1510 Nigeria, Plateau State, n.d., url
1511 Nigeria, Plateau State, n.d., url
1512 International Crisis Group, Stopping Nigeria’s Spiralling Farmer-Herder Violence, 26 July 2018, url, p. 1
1513 Nigeria Watch, Ninth Report on Violence in Nigeria (2019), 2019, url, p. 15
1514 Global Security, Plateau State. Operation Safe Haven, n.d., url; Blueprint, STF: Winning the hearts and minds of the people, 17 March 2014, url
1515 NNN, Plateau: Operation Safe Haven gets new commander, 6 April 2020, url
1516 IISS, Armed Conflict Survey 2020. Nigeria (Farmer - Pastoralist), 2020, p. 344
1517 IISS, Armed Conflict Survey 2020. Nigeria (Farmer - Pastoralist), 2020, p. 344
1518 International Crisis Group, Stopping Nigeria’s Spiralling Farmer-Herder Violence, 26 July 2018, url, pp. 4-5
1519 Nigeria Watch, Tenth Report on Violence in Nigeria (2020), n.d., url, pp. 10, 18
In May 2020, a Bassa LGA resident documented the increasing insecurity in the area, noting that a series of attacks by gunmen had taken place in the previous weeks, which resulted in least 15 fatalities and in the destruction of property worth millions of naira.1520
Sahara Reporters stated that the attack that took place on 6 October 2020 in Ncha Village, Bassa LGA, was the tenth attack by armed Fulani herdsmen in Plateau state in less than two weeks.1521
2.20.3.1 Number of security incidents
In the year 2020, ACLED reported a total of 63 security incidents (9 battles, 46 cases of violence against civilians, 8 incidents of riots) in Plateau state, resulting in 151 deaths. The highest number of security incidents took place in Barkin Ladi LGA, followed by Bassa and Jos North LGAs. Of the 46 incidents of violence against civilians, 41 were attacks and 5 abductions. 1522
The evolution of the types of security events through the reference period, as well as the highest number of incidents by LGA is shown in the graph below. Other than the above-mentioned types of security incidents, 12 protests were reported during the reference period. 1523
Figure 29 Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence, riots, and violence against civilians according to LGAs in Plateau state in 2020, based on ACLED data1524
No source was found reporting on civilian casualties, including deaths and injuries of civilians. The identified sources report solely on the number of fatalities and do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their reporting. The table below shows the number of violent incidents and fatalities, according to type of incident for Plateau state in 2020, as recorded by ACLED.
1520 Punch, Gunmen attack Plateau community, kill four, 4 May 2020, url
1521 Sahara Reporters, Again, Fulani Herdsmen Kill Farmers In Plateau State Hours After Peace Meeting, 7 October 2020, url
1522 ACLED dataset, filtered on Nigeria, 1-1-2020 to 31-12-2020, url
1523 EASO analysis PowerBI based on ACLED dataset, filtered on Nigeria, 1-1-2020 to 31-12-2020, url
1524 EASO analysis PowerBI based on ACLED dataset, filtered on Nigeria, 1-1-2020 to 31-12-2020, url
Plateau state Nr of incidents Nr of fatalities
Battles 9 16
Explosions/remote violence 0 0
Violence against civilians 46 132
Riots 8 3
Total 63 151
Table 25 Number of violent incidents and fatalities by type of incident in 20201525
From 1 January to 30 April 2021, ACLED reported a total of 15 security incidents (3 battles, 11 cases of violence against civilians, 1 incident of riots) in Plateau state, resulting in 45 deaths. 1526
2.20.3.2 Illustrative security incidents
On 8 January 2020, gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen, attacked Kulben community of Kombun District (Mangu LGA). 12 people were killed and one was severely injured.1527
On 26 January 2020, gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen, killed 13 people and injured five at Kwatas village (Bokkos LGA).1528
On 27 January 2020, Fulani herdsmen attacked the Ruboi community (Bokkos LGA). They killed 17 people, including a pregnant woman, injured five and burned several houses.1529
On 1 April 2020, suspected herdsmen attacked Ancha community (Bassa LGA) killing three people and destroying property.1530
On 8 April 2020, gunmen killed four people, injured six others and burnt several homes in Bassa LGA.1531
On 14 April 2020, gunmen attacked Hura village in Kwall District (Bassa LGA), killing nine people and destroying properties and vehicles.1532
On 5 May 2020, four gunmen shot at and injured a family of four at their house in Ghana Ropp (Barkin Ladi LGA) in what the source1533 described as ‘the latest in a series of coordinated assaults on Christian communities in Plateau and Kaduna states by armed assailants of Fulani origin’.1534
On 24 September 2020, gunmen killed five people in an attack at the K/Vom community in Vwang District (Jos South LGA).1535 The approximately 20 gunmen were suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.1536
1525 ACLED dataset, filtered on Nigeria, 1-1-2020 to 31-12-2020, url
1526 EASO analysis PowerBI based on ACLED Dataset, filtered on Nigeria, 1-1-2021 to 30-04-2021, url
1527 Guardian (The) Nigeria, Gunmen kill 12 people in Plateau – Police, 9 January 2020, url; Vanguard, Bloody January!: Boko Haram, bandits, herdsmen, others kill over 320, 2 February 2020, url
1528 Vanguard, 13 killed in fresh attack in Plateau village, 27 January 2020, url; Guardian (The) Nigeria, Again, herdsmen kill 14, injure five persons in Plateau fresh attack, 28 January 2020, url
1529 Sahara Reporters, BREAKING: Pregnant Woman, 16 Others Killed In Plateau Community Attack By Fulani Herdsmen, 28 January 2020, url; Guardian (The) Nigeria, Catalogue of woes as Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger become killing fields, 29 January 2020, url
1530 Daily Post, Plateau community raises alarm over renewed herdsmen attacks, lament killing of 15 people, 3 April 2020, url; Vanguard, Plateau: Herdsmen’ll wipe us out before Covid-19 disappears, residents tell Govt, 4 April 2020, url
1531 Guardian (The) Nigeria, Fresh attacks kill 13 in Benue, Plateau, 9 April 2020, url
1532 Daily Post, Plateau Attacks: Police confirm 9 persons killed, 22 houses razed in Hura village, 15 April 2020, url
1533 CSW stands for Christian Solidarity Worldwide. The group claims to ‘protect, defend and restore’ the right to freedom of religion or belief. Source: CSW (Christian Solidarity Worldwide), About CSW, n.d., url. It has to be noted that it was not possible to corroborate the information on this attack
1534 CSW, Family of four attacked in Plateau state, 7 May 2020, url
1535 Premium Times, Gunmen kill five in Plateau – Police, 25 September 2020, url
1536 Sahara Reporters, Again, Suspected Fulani Gunmen Kill Five Persons In Plateau, 25 September 2020, url
On 5 October 2020, gunmen attacked Wereng village (Riyom LGA), killing six people and injuring three others. A community leader was among the people killed.1537
On 6 October 2020, two people were killed in Ncha Village (Bassa LGA) when armed Fulani herdsmen opened fire on them, only hours after a peace meeting to end attacks on farmers by herdsmen in the area had taken place.1538
On 20 October 2020, three people were killed in Plateau state during clashes in relation to the ongoing
#EndSARS protests. Following these events, the state’s governor imposed a 24-hour lockdown in Jos North and Jos South LGAs. Vehicles and some properties were destroyed.1539
On 1 December 2020, at least three people were shot and killed by suspected kidnappers at Gwa-Pwana village in Vwang District (Jos South LGA) and one woman was reported missing following the attack.1540
Around 3 February 2021, ‘bandits’1541 attacked Dutse village (Bassa LGA) and killed 12 people. On 7 February 2021, suspected ‘killer herdsmen’1542 clashed with local Irigwe militia at Dutse, Kishosho and Zirshe communities (Bassa LGA). Six fatalities in total were reported. The incident was reportedly connected to the farmer-pastoralist conflict.1543 On 14 February 2021, Fulani herdsmen reportedly killed three Christians near Ri-Bakwa village and one in Zirshe village (Bassa LGA). The Irigwe in this area are predominantly Christian, as were five of the victims in the 7 February attack.1544
2.20.3.3 State’s ability to secure law and order
The National Economic Council (NEC) of Nigeria approved in 2018 a 10-year National Livestock Plan, estimated to cost approximately NGN 179 billion. This measure was taken in relation to the increasing conflicts and mass killings from the seasonal pastoral movements. The plan involved the establishment of 94 ranches in 10 pilot states, including Plateau.1545 The reasoning behind the establishment of ranches is to ‘mitigat[e] the escalating crisis between settled-farmers and pastoralists that could undermine the entire development of the livestock sector.1546
On 27 January 2020 Fulani herdsmen attacked the Ruboi community in Bokkos LGA, killing 17 people, injuring other and destroying property. An eyewitness interviewed by Sahara Reporters stated that the attack ‘went on unhindered despite calling on the military and police for help’.1547
Vanguard, following the attack on 5 October 2020 at the Wereng village (Riyom LGA), reported that the village had been ‘under siege for over 10 years now’. More than 30 people had been killed in Wereng village and, according to the source, as of 6 October 2020, ‘no report shows that anyone has been arrested and prosecuted despite repeated assurances from security personnel.’1548
On 5 October 2020, Leadership news reported that troops of Operation Safe Haven ‘neutralized’ a well-known bandit leader in a raid at the bandits’ hideout at Tafawa village in Barkin Ladi LGA.1549
1537 Vanguard, Plateau: 6 killed 3 injured in fresh attack as Rep blames security officers, 6 October 2020, url
1538 Sahara Reporters, Again, Fulani Herdsmen Kill Farmers In Plateau State Hours After Peace Meeting, 7 October 2020, url
1539 Daily Trust, #EndSARS: Dozens Killed As Violence Spreads, 21 October 2020, url
1540 Sun (The), Plateau: Suspected Fulani herdsmen kill three in Jos South village, 2 December 2020, url
1541 Nation online, Another bandits attack claims two lives in Plateau, 6 February 2021, url
1542 Nigerian Tribune, Another six killed by herdsmen in Plateau, 8 February 2021, url
1543 Nation online, Another bandits attack claims two lives in Plateau, 6 February 2021, url; Nigerian Tribune, Another six killed by herdsmen in Plateau, 8 February 2021, url
1544 Morning Star News, Muslim Fulani Kill 11 Christians, Wound Two, in Nigeria, 19 February 2021, url
1545 Nation (the), Fed Govt to build 94 ranches in 10 states, 20 June 2018, url
1546 FAO, The future of livestock in Nigeria. Opportunities and challenges in the face of uncertainty, 2019, url, p. 14
1547 Sahara Reporters, BREAKING: Pregnant Woman, 16 Others Killed In Plateau Community Attack By Fulani Herdsmen, 28 January 2020, url
1548 Vanguard, Plateau: 6 killed 3 injured in fresh attack as Rep blames security officers, 6 October 2020, url
1549 Leadership, Troops Kill Notorious Bandits’ Leader, Fighters In Plateau, [7 October 2020], url
2.20.3.4 Road security
Sahara Reporters noted that motorists described the Keffi-Jos Road in Plateau state as very dangerous for travellers, due to the presence of armed robbers and kidnappers.1550
2.20.3.5 Infrastructure damage and explosive remnants of war
No information was found on infrastructure damage and explosive remnants of war.
2.20.3.6 Displacement and return
For a general overview of the displacement trends in the North-West and North-Central Regions, see Section 2.2.3.6 in Kaduna state.
Compared to Round 4, Plateau dropped from 2nd to 4th place (12 % of all IDPs - down from 14 %).1551 Reasons for displacement in the two regions were communal clashes (45 %of all IDPs), armed banditry and kidnapping (30 %), and natural disasters – mainly floods and sandstorms -(20 %, up from 9 % in the previous round). 1552
IDPs
The total number of IDPs for Plateau state by December 2020 was 84 979, an increase of 4 009 individuals (5 %) compared to Round 4 (80 970 IDPs1553). Riyom LGA hosted most IDPs (12 068 persons). 1554
For an overview of changes in IDP population by state (North-West and North-Central Region) between Round 4 and 5, see Table 5 in Section 2.2.3.6.
Returnees
No information was found on the number of returnees to Plateau state.
1550 Sahara Reporters, Motorists List Nigeria's Most Dangerous Roads, Say Bandits Built Dens Along Them, 15 December 2020, url
1551 IOM Nigeria, DTM North Central and North West Zones, Displacement Report 5 (January 2021), 8 March 2021, url, p. 9
1552 IOM Nigeria, DTM North Central and North West Zones, Displacement Report 5 (January 2021), 8 March 2021, url, p. 10
1553 IOM Nigeria, Displacement Tracking Matrix North Central and North West Zones Displacement Report 4, August 2020, 25 October 2020, url, p. 6
1554 IOM Nigeria, DTM North Central and North West Zones, Displacement Report 5 (January 2021), 8 March 2021, url, p. 8
South-East Region
The South-East Region comprises Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states. 1555
The South-East, just like South-South Region, used to be affected by the violence by ‘dominant militant groups [who] often operated via kidnappings and oil bunkering.’1556 In recent years, the regions are increasingly conflicts over scarce natural resources such as land and water for farming and herding communities.1557 The African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) explained:
‘Herdsmen, who are typically from northern Nigeria, often migrate to the southern parts of the country in search of healthy and greener grazing pastures, which are now of very low quantity in the north. These herdsmen are often regarded as strangers in their new settlements, they encroach on the farms of the local people and their animals graze on (and destroy) the farmers’ crops. This has mostly been the source of the crisis between the two groups, resulting in cattle rustling, killings, rapes, abductions and other atrocities.’1558
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) reported that ‘conflict over land and water, once largely restricted to the Middle Belt, is spreading to the south, where it frequently acquires ethnic and religious overtones. Many Igbo—mostly Christian—believe they are targeted by the Muslim Fulani herdsmen bringing their flocks south in search of better pastures. Criminal activity is widespread and often the Igbo attribute it to the Fulani.’1559
State attempts to resettle herding communities to the southern areas were met with many protests among a mainly Igbo and Christian population, as USDOS noted in its 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom on Nigeria: the ‘news of a government plan to resettle the predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen in southern parts of the country’ was negatively received, resulting in ‘threatening violence against Fulani communities in South West and South East states’, leading to the plan to be later annulled.1560
For more information, see Section 1.4.1.1.