Civil society organisations in Plateau State have raised alarm over what they describe as a “forgotten humanitarian crisis,” warning that the state may face deeper tragedy if urgent measures are not taken.
According to a report by Mediaplusng.com, the Safe House for Justice and Human Empowerment Centre, Missions for the Vulnerable and Displaced Citizens, and the Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuse revealed that over 1.3 million people are now displaced in Plateau State, with at least 64 communities completely deserted after years of violent attacks.
The groups described the persistent killings and forced displacement as showing genocidal tendencies. They cited the July 2025 attack in Bindi village, where 27 people—mostly women and children—were killed, forcing more than 2,400 residents to flee their homes.
Children are the worst hit, the organisations told Mediaplusng.com. Many are out of school, trafficked into forced labour, or exposed to abuse. Women face increasing risks of gender-based violence, exploitation, and trauma, with some forced into “sex-for-survival” as their last option.
While acknowledging recent humanitarian interventions, including the ₦1 billion donation from Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and support from international partners, the groups said the efforts remain a drop in the ocean. They stressed that funding cuts and weak security responses have worsened the situation, leaving displaced persons to rely on unsafe coping strategies like child labour and skipping meals.
The organisations called on government to move beyond reactive security responses by deploying forces strategically, improving intelligence gathering, and investing in community-based peacebuilding. They also urged donors and philanthropists to support trauma healing, livelihood restoration, and sustainable peace efforts.
> “The people of Plateau are not just statistics; they are farmers, mothers, and children whose lives have been shattered. We cannot allow Plateau to become another forgotten crisis,” the groups declared.
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