A human rights lawyer, Ayiwulu Baba Ayiwulu, has raised serious concerns about the growing wave of violent attacks in Nasarawa State, warning that the security situation has reached a dangerous level.
Ayiwulu alleged that terrorist groups identified as Fulani militias have set up camps in parts of Kwara, Kadarko, and Doma, from where they reportedly launch deadly attacks on villages across Nasarawa and neighbouring Benue States.
In a statement made available to journalists, the lawyer described the latest violence as “a sad and helpless reality,” following the killing of three Migili youths from Duduguru community along the Kwara–Gidan Rai road by suspected Fulani terrorists.
“Another sad moment as three Migili youths of Duduguru have been killed by Fulani terrorists along Kwara–Gidan Rai road,” he said.
“I have stated before that my area of Kwara, Kadarko, and part of Doma connecting my electoral ward has become the camp of Fulani terrorists in Nasarawa State, from where they launch attacks on both Nasarawa and Benue States.”
According to him, the attacks have continued unchecked for months, leaving several communities in ruins and forcing hundreds of residents to flee for safety.
Ayiwulu painted a grim picture of the current situation in affected communities. He said entire villages such as Amurayi, Antsa, Doshima, Agbogio, and Gidan Mdza—all located behind the railway line at Kadarko—have been displaced due to repeated raids and killings.
“These areas, which fall within Kwara electoral ward in Keana Local Government Area and parts of Doma, are now deserted,” he lamented.
Local sources who spoke to journalists also confirmed that many residents have abandoned their homes, leaving behind farms and property, while some are taking refuge in nearby towns like Lafia, Awe, and Obi.
A resident who pleaded anonymity said gunmen frequently invade the area, sometimes at night, shooting randomly and burning houses. “We cannot sleep with our eyes closed anymore. Every night, we hear gunshots. The government needs to send soldiers here before we are all wiped out,” the source said.
The lawyer accused both the state and federal governments of turning a blind eye to the suffering of rural dwellers, despite repeated reports of killings and displacement.
“People are being killed every day in this same axis, and yet the government is saying nothing,” he said angrily.
“Do we have security in this state? Do we have a senator, representatives, and house members in this state? We are in trouble, walahi,” he added.
Ayiwulu described the silence of authorities as “unacceptable and disheartening,” saying residents now feel abandoned and helpless.
He called on the Nasarawa State Government, security agencies, and federal authorities to take immediate action to restore peace and protect innocent lives.
“We are now helpless and may no longer have a place called our village,” he warned.
The latest alarm comes amid growing concern over the spread of armed violence and farmer-herder conflicts across Nigeria’s Middle Belt region—an area that includes Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, and Niger States.
For years, communities in these states have faced frequent attacks blamed on armed herders or bandits, leading to massive displacement and loss of lives.
According to humanitarian reports, thousands of people have been killed in such clashes, while many others have become internally displaced persons (IDPs).
In Nasarawa alone, villages in Karu, Keana, Awe, and Doma Local Government Areas have seen repeated violence in the past three years. In 2024, a similar incident in Kadarko reportedly left several farmers dead, forcing the state government to deploy security operatives to restore order.
However, residents say the situation has not improved.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nasarawa State Government nor security agencies have issued an official statement regarding the lawyer’s allegations or the latest killings.
Officials at the Keana Local Government Council declined to speak on the matter, saying they were awaiting an official briefing from the police.
Meanwhile, community leaders in the affected areas have renewed calls for military intervention to prevent further bloodshed.
“We need soldiers and mobile police to patrol this area,” said a community elder from Doma. “We have reported to the government several times, but nothing has been done. People are dying silently.”
Human rights campaigner Ayiwulu called for the immediate deployment of security forces to dismantle the alleged terrorist camps operating between Kwara, Kadarko, and Doma.
He also appealed for relief materials for displaced persons who are currently staying with relatives or in makeshift shelters.
“The government must act now before these terrorists completely take over our land,” he said. “Our people are suffering, our children are not going to school, and our women cannot go to the farms.”
They warn that unless decisive action is taken, rural areas could remain vulnerable to attacks, forcing more people into poverty and displacement.