A United States missionary, Alex Barbir, has strongly condemned the recurring killings in Plateau State, accusing Nigerian authorities of failing to protect vulnerable communities and downplaying the true scale of the violence.nationalperiscope+3
Barbir, who works as a humanitarian in affected areas, said recent attacks that left dozens dead, including a Palm Sunday assault in Jos and a night raid that wiped out nine members of one family, show a grave security failure.premiumtimesng+3
He alleged that official casualty figures released after major incidents in Plateau and neighbouring Benue often understate the number of victims, claiming that what he has seen on the ground does not match government reports.b
In a viral video, the missionary criticised President Bola Tinubu and other leaders, saying they are “doing nothing” while communities face repeated attacks from armed militias and terrorists.dailyobserver+2
Barbir also rejected attempts to describe the violence simply as farmer herder clashes, insisting it should be treated as organised terrorism targeting Christian and rural communities in the Middle Belt.politicsnigeria+1
His comments have sparked heated debate online and in the media, with some clerics and political figures challenging his claims while others say his warnings reflect long standing fears among residents of Plateau.
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