Media personality Chude Jideonwo travelled to Plateau State to document the human cost of ongoing violence across communities in the region. The situation in Plateau has become the subject of national and international debate following tweets from former U.S. President Donald J. Trump. Federal ministers have appeared on global platforms, deputy ministers and advisers have engaged the U.S. Department of State, and influencers, pastors, and commentators have voiced their opinions. Chude Jideonwo went to Jos, Plateau, to investigate: “Is there a Christian genocide in Northern Nigeria?”
Barkin Ladi, one of the community Jideonwo visited, has been severely affected by attacks over the past decade and is the site of mass graves where victims of repeated violence have been buried. Barkin Ladi is also near the community where Rev. Dachomo, whom he spoke to, hails from. During his visit, he spoke to residents, youth leaders, and community elders about the attacks and their daily struggles living under constant threat.
One resident recounted the killing of his sister in 2015. He said, “What happened to my sister on the 15th of 2015 was that as they came, they killed many people. My sister, who was a mother, was among them. They brought the bodies and buried them in this place. After the burial, we could not return to our village. If you went, they would kill you on the road.”
Residents described the attacks as targeting Christians. Bitrus Davo said, “This is genocide. This is pure Fulani herdsmen. We don’t have a problem with the Muslim community in Barkin Ladi in Jos, but it’s mostly the Fulani Muslims who have a problem with Christians.” Another resident said, “The first time it happened was in September 2021. About 500 people were killed. They killed my sister and her two children. Only one child survived. They burnt them in their house.”
Villagers described repeated failures of security agencies. One resident said, “The Nigerian army asked us to run and they said, ‘These people don pass us,’” meaning the bandits were stronger than the army that came to the village. Another villager said, “Whenever they wanted to attack, we informed the military, but they didn’t come. They only arrived after people had been killed. One time, they were present when the attackers were attacking, and the Rev. asked them to help us, but the army said they had not received orders.”
Some residents said the attackers are their neighbors. One described, “The Fulani who attack us are our neighbors. The secondary school in the community is now used by the Fulani to keep their cows because the government is not doing anything. Even when we farm, they harvest our crops at night.” They also said the community becomes very dangerous after 6 o’clock in the evening.
Rev. Dachomo spoke about the insurgency happening in Plateau, saying, “They killed my grandmother and removed her heart. My uncle’s tongue was cut out.” Dachomo said, “This is a Christian genocide and it’s a religious agenda “
Gyang Jonathan, the BYM financial secretary at Rachas community in Barkin Ladi, said, “My very close friend was killed in the last attack by the Fulani herdsmen. This is a pure Christian genocide. They only go to villages that have only Christians.”
Villagers described how attacks often come under the cover of theft. One person said, “The Fulani herdsmen either come to kill or to steal cows, and in the process of stealing, they also kill villagers.” Another recounted an attack on May 26, 2025, “Seven people were killed, and while mourning their deaths, the Fulani herdsmen came back to attack the mourners.” Four women who left the IDP camp at St. Thomas to harvest in their village were killed on their way back.
Rev. Dachomo warned, “Christians in the west, east, and south will see pepper.” He also criticized the government’s response, saying, “The government declared a state of emergency in Plateau because it is a Christian state, but they did not do anything like that in Kaduna and other Muslim states. That is why I am calling out the government; it is a religious agenda.”
Some insurgents have been identified as coming from Chad, Niger, Taraba, Kano, and even Maiduguri. Rev. Jacob Irmiya Dashop recounted, “On 16th May 2023, the terrorists surrounded the community and shouted for over two hours. My wife mistakenly ran into them, but she hid and they did not see her. I have had to bury 85 people in one day.”
Chude also visited the monument for 501 people who were killed by the insurgents and buried together in one place. Hidden away, these communities continue to carry the weight of loss, fear, and trauma. Chude Jideonwo’s visit sheds light on these stories, giving voice to survivors and victims whose experiences are often reduced to statistics or political debate.
