A coalition of Berom ethnic nationals in Plateau State has accused the military of detaining eight of its members for defending themselves against attacks by terrorist Fulani jihadists.
The group also claimed that bandits and terrorists killed approximately 500 people in their respective towns between November 2025 and April 2026.
The coalition, which includes the Berom Diaspora Coalition, the Berom Educational and Cultural Organization, the Berom Youth Moulders, the Berom Educational and Cultural Organization, and the Berom Women Development Association, made the allegation on Tuesday during a press conference in Jos regarding the state’s ongoing gunman attacks.
Barry Barnanas Dazih read the text of the news conference, titled “Reclaiming Our Lost Ancestral Lands and Resettlement of Our People,” on behalf of the Coalition.
“Between November 2025 and April 2026, over 500 people have been brutally killed, some maimed, and houses and farmlands worth millions of naira destroyed without provocation by terrorist Fulani jihadist elements,” the coalition disclosed.
“In fact, the killings in Berom land are like a script from a horror movie, with death stalking innocent Nigerians on a daily basis.”
The group claims that the attacks have expanded from Gwol (Barkin Ladi), Riyom, Jos South, Bokkos, and Bassa to the heart of the Plateau State capital.
“The terrorists have taken the onslaught to the heart of the Plateau State capital, Jos city, with the March 29th, Easter attack that claimed about 30 innocent lives at Angwan Rukuba in Jos North,” the statement further read.
It added: “Without prejudice to Muslims, those attacking, killing, and sacking our villages are Fulani terrorist jihadists.”
The coalition emphasized that killings have continued unabated in Fan, Heipang, Kassa, Jol, Shonong, Gyel, Danwal, and many other Berom villages, noting that “in almost all those killings, there were early warnings.”
“We had earlier raised an alarm that over 70 Berom villages have been displaced, with some occupied by the Fulani Islamic terrorists,” it said.
“This new wave of attacks from November 2025 to date has created a worse dimension of humanitarian crisis, thereby increasing the number of orphans, widows, and homeless and vulnerable people.”
The group lamented what it called “double standards” by security agencies.
“It is, however, shocking that where government fails in securing lives of citizens, those who are bold enough to go on self-defense when attacked are haunted and arrested and labeled terrorists by security agencies,” the coalition said.
“We want to ask security agencies why they are unable to go after the terrorists/bandits whenever our people are attacked and killed but find it easy to arrest our vulnerable and helpless people and label them terrorists when a cow dies of alleged poisoning or cattle rustling.”
Citing Section 33(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, the coalition said self-defense is recognized under Nigerian law.
“This section permits the use of reasonably necessary force to protect oneself, family, or property from an unlawful violent attack, even if it results in the death of the attacker,” it stated.
“We therefore demand the unconditional release of our people arrested for defending themselves without further delay.”
The National Secretary General of BECO, Chollom Gyang, and the National President of the Berom Youths Moulders Association, Solomon Mwantiri, both spoke at the news conference, condemning the killings and revealing that eight of their comrades are being held by the military for self-defense.
They identified those arrested as Gyang Dantoro, Pam Dalyop, Jacob Musa, Femi Baudung, Samson Davou, Yakubu Dalyop, Vincent Adamu, and Choji Mwanvwang, who is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.
The group urged the military to “release them without further delay,” adding that “by such action, security agencies have falsely tagged our people, rustlers without conviction by any court of competent jurisdiction.”
When asked about the claims surrounding the arrest of the eight people for self-defense, Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, spokesman for the Joint Military Task Force in Plateau, Operation Enduring Peace, declined to respond.
“Until I see the text of the press conference, I will make any statement,” Oteh said.
The organization also criticized the government’s response to the situation, claiming that President Bola Tinubu’s and Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s promises “to bring the killings to an end” have yet to yield any dividends as the terrorists have become more daring and emboldened.
“Citizens deserve protection and not a decent burial,'” the statement lamented.
“Mass burial and the erection of a monumental tomb with the names of victims of terrorism are stark reminders of the wickedness done to our people.”
Regarding resettlement, the coalition stated that the Plateau State Government has established committees for displaced persons, but “this has yet to see the light of day in any community, while our people have remained displaced and destitute in our own land, with terrorists occupying our ancestral land.”
It further urged the Federal Government to declare Mahanga in Riyom LGA “a terrorist hideout and Fulani terrorist enclave,” characterizing it as a “major stronghold for armed Fulani militant groups and bandits responsible for attacks throughout the state.”
“The call for state police is more urgent than ever, but we are concerned about the slow progress,” the coalition said.
They urged the world community and human rights organizations “to, as a matter of urgency, come to end the killings in our land and restore us to our ancestral homes and lands that are being taken away from us by terrorists.”
