By Mike Odeh James
Every single day in Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, parts of Nasarawa, and even intermittently in the South East, two or three innocent lives are cut short—murdered in cold blood by Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM), often masquerading as herders or cattle rearers. Despite the persistent bloodshed, the Nigerian government appears either unwilling or unable to stop the carnage.
This disturbing reality raises a critical and uncomfortable question: Why has the government failed to respond with the same resolve and force it has deployed in other regions?
Two possible explanations present themselves.
First, the military might be deliberately holding back, either due to political considerations or silent approval from higher authorities—hoping that these terrorists will eventually displace the indigenous populations from their ancestral lands. Second, and perhaps more disturbing, is the possibility that the Presidency itself is instructing security agencies not to engage or eliminate these killers.
Contrast this with other regions of the country.
In the North West—Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi—there are near-daily reports of terrorists being killed or “neutralised” by military operations. Coordinated air strikes and boots-on-the-ground operations are routine.
In the North East, the Nigerian military is actively engaged against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Al-Qaeda affiliates. Even more telling, the government empowered civilians through the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to bear arms and defend their communities.
But in the Middle Belt, where Fulani Ethnic Militias kill with impunity, no such measures exist. No sweeping clearance operations. No national emergency declarations. No support for community self-defense. Instead, residents are prohibited from bearing arms, left defenseless as their communities are razed and their people slaughtered.
The message is clear: there are two sets of rules—one for the North West and North East, and another for the Middle Belt.
Why?
Is it because the victims are predominantly Christian or from minority ethnic groups? Is the government’s silence part of a larger demographic or political agenda? These are questions that demand answers—not just from the military, but from the presidency, the national assembly, and the international community.
So, where do we go from here?
It is time to confront the government’s selective justice and deliberate silence. Every Nigerian life is equal. Every citizen deserves the same protection under the law. The current situation in the Middle Belt is not just a security failure—it is a national shame, a human rights crisis, and a constitutional betrayal.
The Nigerian government must act. Not tomorrow. Now
