Anxiety in Middle Belt as MBF Raises Alarm Over Imminent Attacks
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
Fresh fears of coordinated violence have spread across Nigeria’s Middle Belt following a stark warning by the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), as conveyed by its spokesman, Luka Binniyat, over looming attacks in parts of Taraba State and Southern Kaduna.
Binniyat said credible intelligence points to potential strikes along the Chachangi–Yelwa axis and the Wukari–Takum Road corridor in Taraba, with the threat window believed to be within hours on Monday.
In Southern Kaduna, Kajuru, Chikun and Kachia local government areas have again been flagged as flashpoints, amid reports of renewed plans to unleash violence on already vulnerable rural communities.
Although the MBF stopped short of triggering panic, Binniyat stressed that recent developments across the region have made the warning too serious to ignore.
He cautioned that the named locations may only represent part of a broader strategy, warning of possible diversionary tactics aimed at catching other communities off guard.
The alert has heightened anxiety across the Middle Belt, with residents in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Adamawa and Gombe states urged to remain on high alert.
According to Binniyat, signs of impending attacks may include unusual gatherings of unfamiliar persons, movements of armed individuals near settlements, increased motorcycle activity along remote routes, and the sudden appearance of cattle in deserted or disputed farmlands. Suspicious camps in nearby forests have also been flagged as potential red signals.
He called for immediate precautionary measures, including avoiding isolated farming, travelling in groups, activating community vigilance systems, and preparing evacuation plans for women, children and the elderly. Communities, he added, should strengthen coordination with neighbouring areas to enable rapid response in the event of an attack.
Binniyat also placed responsibility on security agencies to act swiftly on the intelligence by intensifying surveillance and deploying personnel proactively to forestall any attacks.
The warning comes amid a persistent wave of insecurity across the Middle Belt, raising renewed concerns over the safety of rural populations and the effectiveness of ongoing security interventions.
