By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
The Christian Rights Agenda (CRA), a Nigerian faith-based human rights group, has raised a serious alarm over rising violence in the Middle Belt, claiming that armed Fulani groups have taken control of more than 80 communities in Benue and Plateau states.
In a statement released in Abuja, CRA described the attackers as terrorists and accused them of carrying out targeted assaults against Christians and other civilians.
The group is calling on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to urgently overhaul its security strategy.
“Violence has escalated over the past three weeks, leaving dozens dead, homes burned, and families forced to flee,” CRA said.
The group described the killings as highly coordinated, saying the violence carries all the signs of terrorism fueled by religious and ethnic hatred.
“These are calculated attacks, not isolated events. There is a deliberate effort to sow fear, destabilize communities, and promote intolerance,” said Reverend Kallamu Musa Dikwa, CRA’s Secretary General.
CRA has dispatched field investigators to the affected areas in Benue, Plateau, and Borno states.
Initial reports, according to Dikwa, confirm that over 80 villages and communities have fallen under the control of heavily armed Fulani militants.
He added that CRA is currently building a national database to track and report Christian persecution across Nigeria, especially in the northern regions.
While the group acknowledged President Tinubu’s recent directive for security agencies to clamp down on violence, it stressed that government action must move beyond words.
“Statements are not enough. We need follow-through. If officials fail to act, there must be accountability,” CRA stated.
The group also appealed to state governors to confront the crisis without hiding behind political agendas.
“Enough is enough. Leaders must face the truth and act with urgency. People are dying,” Dikwa added.
