Plateau Governor Bans Night Grazing and Motorcycle Use After Deadly Attacks Claim Over 100 Lives

In a decisive response to escalating violence in Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has introduced stringent measures to curb insecurity following a series of brutal attacks that have left over 100 residents dead.

On April 16, 2025, the governor announced a statewide ban on night grazing, prohibiting the transportation of cattle by vehicle after 7 p.m.

Additionally, a restriction on motorcycle usage was imposed, effective from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., until further notice.

These measures come in the wake of a devastating assault on April 13, Palm Sunday, in the Bassa community, where at least 51 people were killed, with further casualties reported in neighboring Benue State.

The violence, which has sparked widespread grief and a mass burial for victims, underscores the persistent security challenges in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.

Governor Mutfwang labeled the attacks as "coordinated acts of terror" aimed at displacing local communities and disrupting their livelihoods.

The Middle Belt, a region long plagued by conflict between predominantly Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers, has seen a surge in violence over the years.

Historical data paints a grim picture: a 2022 Amnesty International report noted that more than 4,000 people have been killed in farmer-herder clashes since 2015, driven by disputes over land and resources.

Environmental factors, such as desertification and soil degradation, have intensified these tensions by shrinking available pasturelands, forcing herders to encroach on farmlands and sparking deadly confrontations.

The recent attacks in Plateau State follow this troubling pattern, with communities targeted at the onset of the farming season to prevent planting and destabilize the region.

In response, Mutfwang has pledged to bring the perpetrators and their sponsors to justice while bolstering security across vulnerable areas.

Troops and security personnel have been deployed to reinforce safety in affected communities, and the governor has committed to providing free medical treatment for victims.

Beyond immediate interventions, he emphasized the importance of community-driven solutions, urging traditional leaders and youth groups to revive local vigilante systems and organize night patrols in collaboration with security agencies.

These community-based responses aim to enhance vigilance and restore calm, but experts caution that such measures may fall short without addressing deeper systemic issues.

A 2023 study published in the Journal of Peace Research highlights the limitations of reactive security measures in resolving Nigeria’s farmer-herder conflicts.

The research argues that while restrictions on grazing and movement can temporarily reduce violence, they often fail to tackle underlying causes such as economic inequality, poor governance, and the breakdown of traditional conflict resolution mechanisms.

In Plateau and other Middle Belt states, the lack of infrastructure—such as reliable roads and telecommunications in rural areas—further complicates security efforts, leaving communities isolated and vulnerable to attacks.

Governor Mutfwang’s administration faces the challenge of not only enforcing these new regulations but also fostering long-term solutions that address the root causes of the violence.

The recent wave of attacks has also drawn attention to the broader regional dynamics fueling insecurity in Nigeria.

The Middle Belt’s fertile land, rich in agricultural produce and mineral deposits, has made it a target for land-grabbing schemes, often with economic motives at play.

As Plateau State grapples with this crisis, the governor’s measures signal a commitment to restoring peace, but the path forward requires a holistic approach that bridges ethnic and religious divides, strengthens governance, and ensures equitable resource access for all communities.