The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has attributed the prolonged crisis in Plateau State to a combination of political and religious tensions, land disputes and criminality involving different ethnic communities.
Salisu Isa Muhammed, Secretary of the Plateau State chapter of MACBAN, said the crisis, which dates back to 2001, had continued because its underlying causes had not been adequately addressed.
According to Muhammed, the conflict was initially shaped by the intersection of politics and religion, particularly in Jos, before expanding into disputes over land ownership, identity and insecurity.
“At its core, what happened in Plateau State was connected to politics and religion,” he said.
He identified land ownership and acquisition as another factor contributing to the conflict, noting that disputes over who owns particular areas have continued to trigger tensions.
The MACBAN official also acknowledged the presence of criminals within different ethnic communities, including the Fulani community.
“There are criminals among the Fulani. I am a Fulani man, and I will remain a Fulani man, and I will be proud to be Fulani,” Muhammed said, urging members of the community to distance themselves from individuals involved in criminal activities.
He alleged that some criminals benefit from the continuation of the crisis and called on communities to identify and hand suspected perpetrators over to security agencies for investigation and prosecution.
Muhammed also cautioned against protecting suspected criminals because of their ethnic identity.
He urged stakeholders to recognise the different dimensions of the Plateau crisis rather than attributing violence to an entire ethnic or religious group.
The MACBAN position comes amid renewed attacks and security concerns in parts of Plateau State, particularly in communities affected by recurring communal violence.
