Berom women threaten naked protest over Plateau killings

|By Adejumo Adekunle

…Group says attacks are genocide, not farmer-herder clashes
…Accuses government, security of negligence and complicity

A women’s group in Plateau State has threatened to stage a naked protest over the recurring killings and attacks by suspected Fulani militias, particularly in Berom communities.

The group, under the aegis of the Berom Women Development Association (BWEDA), said the recent wave of violence in Plateau amounts to genocide and not the result of the often-cited farmer-herder clashes.

In a strongly worded statement signed by its President, Abigail Banga, and released on Saturday, BWEDA condemned what it described as “mindless and unprovoked attacks” on Berom communities. The women decried the sustained bloodshed and destruction of villages despite the heavy presence of military personnel and armoured vehicles in the region.

“Our hearts bleed with each butchered child and burned home. We are traumatised, we are grieving, and we are angry. This is not a conflict—it is a campaign of extermination,” the statement read.

The group accused the government of failing to provide justice and meaningful protection to affected communities, criticising the repeated resort to condolence visits and palliatives as an insult to the lives lost and families shattered.

“We’ve had enough of empty words. We demand action now or we will embark on a naked protest. This is not just Plateau’s problem; it is Nigeria’s shame,” the statement added.

BWEDA demanded immediate and decisive action from the federal government and security agencies. It also called for a complete overhaul of the security architecture in Plateau State. The women further warned that growing allegations of military indifference—and in some cases, possible collusion with attackers—must be investigated thoroughly and not swept under the carpet.

They called on civil society organisations, human rights groups, and international bodies to intervene and prevent what they fear may evolve into a full-blown humanitarian disaster.