Recent weeks have seen a surge in violent attacks and communal clashes across Plateau and Benue States in Nigeria, leading to tragic loss of life, widespread destruction of property, and significant internal displacement. Communities in Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State, as well as Agatu and Apa Local Government Areas in Benue State, have been particularly affected, prompting urgent calls for government intervention and heightened security measures. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also raised alarms about the escalating internal displacement crisis nationwide.

In the Gyenbwas community, Langai District of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, a recent clash on a Monday resulted in at least 96 houses being razed. Alhaji Yakubu Umar, a traditional ruler and Madugun Langai, reported that three lives were lost in this incident, with one body recovered the following day. Residents alleged that perpetrators looted food, mattresses, cattle, and other valuables. While the local community accused the Berom ethnic group of launching the attack, the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) vehemently denied these claims. BYM President Dalyop Solomon stated that three of their members were attacked by what he termed terrorists while on their farms and were receiving hospital treatment. He asserted their right to self-defense and accused Fulani groups of making excuses to justify attacks.

Riyom Local Government Area in Plateau State has been a focal point of sustained violence. The Plateau Youth Council (PYC) and its Riyom chapter have reported devastating losses over the past month to six weeks. These include 58 fatalities, 31 individuals sustaining injuries, the destruction of 82 houses, and the displacement of over 15,000 residents. PYC Chairman Zang Davou and Riyom Youth Council Chairman Comrade Zang Kefas Davou highlighted that Riyom has endured what they described as a relentless and systematic campaign of violence, allegedly perpetrated by armed Fulani militias, since 2002. These attacks have reportedly involved unprovoked killings, destruction of properties valued in billions of Naira, decimation of farmlands, and ancestral land grabbing. The PYC has urged the Federal Government to declare Mahanga, a community in Riyom bordering Gashish District of Barkin Ladi Local Council, a terrorist hideout. They have also called for a massive and permanent deployment of security forces, particularly the Nigeria Mobile Police Force (MOPOL), to protect vulnerable communities and ensure justice is served.

Similar patterns of violence have emerged in Benue State. Suspected herdsmen recently launched attacks in Agatu and Apa Local Government Areas, resulting in several deaths. In the Edikwu-G’Icho community of Apa Local Government Area, three youths were reportedly ambushed and killed. Separately, in Agatu Local Government Area, Sunday Dutse, identified as the younger brother of a former local government council chairman, was killed along the Odugbeho-Ogbaulu road.

The escalating violence contributes to a broader national crisis of internal displacement. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed grave concerns, identifying Benue and Borno states as the hardest hit between February and April 2025. NHRC Executive Secretary Tony Ojukwu (SAN) lamented the worsening conditions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and a growing sense among many Nigerians of feeling unprotected and unheard. According to NHRC data, April 2025 alone saw 44,295 individuals displaced, involving 5,953 households and over 20,000 children, stemming from both man-made disasters like armed conflict and sexual violence, and natural disasters such as severe flooding. To address this, the NHRC, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), launched Nigeria’s first Human Rights, Internal Displacement Dashboard. This initiative aims to provide timely data on IDPs, asylum seekers, refugees, and returnees, and to spotlight human rights issues affecting these vulnerable populations. The NHRC has appealed for intensified efforts from federal and state governments, development partners, and civil society to safeguard the rights of displaced and marginalized people.

The recurring attacks in Plateau and Benue states underscore an urgent need for comprehensive security strategies, effective conflict resolution mechanisms, and substantial humanitarian assistance for the affected communities. Calls for justice for victims and the prosecution of perpetrators continue to mount, as local leaders and national bodies like the NHRC advocate for decisive action to end the cycle of violence and alleviate the suffering of displaced populations. Operation Safe Haven's spokesperson, Major Samson Zhakom, had not responded to inquiries regarding the Mangu incident at the time of reporting by Daily Trust.