At the conclusion of a Citizens’ Dialogue convened by Middle Belt Concern (MBC) on Saturday, April 26, 2025, 77 civil society organisations, religious leaders, victims’ groups, and concerned citizens issued a powerful communiqué warning that persistent attacks, mass killings, and land seizures could escalate into full-blown genocide without urgent action.
Held under the theme “Defeating Terror in the Middle Belt,” the dialogue highlighted over two decades of terror in Middle Belt communities, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, widespread displacement, and land takeovers by well-armed groups. Participants accused political authorities of exploiting survivors during election cycles while abandoning them to violence thereafter.
The communiqué condemned successive Nigerian governments, including the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for failing to protect lives, citing constitutional guarantees of life, dignity, and security. The dialogue also criticized regional elites for not challenging the narrative that attributes the violence to farmer-herder clashes rather than systemic terror and land conquest.
Participants expressed alarm at the consistent failures of security agencies and intelligence services, pointing to poor threat response, inadequate intelligence sharing, and perceived complicity in attacks. They lamented the lack of accountability for known perpetrators and called for decisive state action.
Significantly, the dialogue affirmed that Middle Belt communities must now assert their right to defend themselves. Participants described self-defense as both a God-given right and a constitutional necessity under Section 33(2) of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and self-defense.
Key demands outlined in the communiqué include:
– Immediate action by local, state, and federal authorities to protect lives and seek international assistance.
– Transparency in security vote expenditures by elected officials.
– An end to harassment of victims and human rights defenders, citing threats against Bishop Wilfred Anagbe.
– Creation of a Middle Belt regional security framework similar to the South West’s Amotekun corps.
– Formal designation of killer groups, including MACBAN, as terrorist organizations.
– Comprehensive relief, rebuilding, and compensation for victims.
– Prosecution of all illegal occupiers of ancestral lands.
Furthermore, participants called for an urgent amendment of the **Firearms Act** to permit responsible farming communities to legally arm themselves in self-defense, citing poor police-to-citizen ratios and recent acknowledgments by security officials about policing limitations.
The communiqué concluded with a powerful reminder:
“If the Middle Belt survives and thrives, Nigeria will survive and thrive.”
It was signed by leading representatives of Middle Belt Concern, including Ier Jonathan-Ichaver, Kiyitwe Gotom, Marie Ene Orgah Esq, Redzie Jugo Esq, Samuel Danauta, and Vitalis Ortese.
