Pogu Bitrus Calls for Urgent Action to End Insecurity in North-Central Nigeria

The President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, has condemned the ongoing violence in the North-Central region of Nigeria, describing the attacks as “coordinated, genocidal, and unacceptable.” In an exclusive interview with Nigeria News 247, Bitrus laid blame on the federal government’s inaction and what he described as systemic failures in governance and security response.

On the Nature of the Attacks

Bitrus rejected the popular narrative of “farmers-herders clashes,” instead labeling the perpetrators as Fulani terrorists targeting innocent civilians and farmers. According to him, the level of brutality has escalated, with attackers now resorting to burning victims alive—a tactic he described as a new and horrifying dimension to terrorism in Nigeria.

“This is one of the most dastardly attacks we’ve seen. In the past, they shot victims. Now, they’re burning people alive in their rooms,” Bitrus said.

He criticized security agencies for ignoring warnings and distress calls, despite knowing where the attackers operate from, particularly in Nasarawa State, from where they allegedly launch attacks into Benue, Plateau, Taraba, and Southern Kaduna.

On the Government’s Role and Security Architecture

Bitrus was critical of the federal government’s handling of the situation, stating that authorities have failed to protect citizens or allow them to protect themselves.

“People have been disarmed, and yet they are being killed with impunity. The government knows where these terrorists are and refuses to act,” he said.

He also expressed concern over the ethnic concentration in Nigeria’s top security leadership, noting that the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defense, and Minister of State for Defense are all of Fulani origin.

“In a diverse country like Nigeria, why concentrate these key roles in one ethnic group? This raises questions about intent,” he said, suggesting it could be a deliberate move to enable unchecked violence in the Middle Belt.

On Claims of Genocide and Displacement

Bitrus aligned with claims that the violence against North-Central communities amounts to a coordinated genocide, citing the scale of displacement and targeted killings of specific ethnic groups.

“IDP camps are filled with people chased from their ancestral lands by Fulani terrorists. Instead of justice, these attackers are rewarded with land. This is not happening in the far North—why only in the Middle Belt?”

On the Anti-Open Grazing Law and Ranching

Responding to criticism of Benue State’s anti-open grazing law, Bitrus clarified that the law was a response to the violence, not the cause of it. He advocated for community-based ranching as a long-term solution.

“Ranching is the only way forward. It’s a global standard and should be practiced in Nigeria. But these terrorists want to occupy our land and shift Nigeria’s demography in their favor,” he alleged.

Bitrus further claimed that foreign Fulani migrants from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and other countries are being allowed into Nigeria unchecked, leading to further conflict and land disputes.

The Way Forward

To resolve the crisis, Bitrus proposed several steps:

1. Establish State Police: Every local government should have its own police force to provide security and enforce the law locally.

2. Abolish Malami Protocol: The protocol signed by former AGF Abubakar Malami, which allegedly permits unfettered movement of herders across Nigeria, should be revoked.

3. Repatriate Foreign Fulanis: Foreign herders operating illegally in Nigeria should be sent back to their home countries.

4. Implement Community-Based Ranching: Ranching should be adopted nationwide, but only by local Fulani communities known to the people, with formal agreements in place.

“The federal government has failed. If peace must return, it must be community-driven, locally enforced, and rooted in justice,” Bitrus concluded.