The Documentary Podcast Nigeria: Killings, land and cattle
Jan 27, 2026
A reporter travels to Plateau State to explore cycles of violence tied to land, ethnicity and politics. Tensions over indigene versus settler rights and shrinking grazing land spark clashes. Local peacebuilders and a joint farming project offer surprising cooperation. The limits of community-led reconciliation without state support are examined.
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Night Attack In Zike
- Joseph Izizino describes fleeing his burning village amid chanting attackers and gunfire on April 14, 2025.
- He and others survived by running to the hills while homes burned and dozens were killed.
2001 Crisis Warped Local Relations
- The 2001 Jos crisis transformed local disputes into long-running ethnic and sectarian conflict across Plateau State.
- That violence hardened identities, fuelled militias, and created cycles of reprisal and impunity.
Indigeneity Drives Grievances
- Land and indigene/settler status are core grievances, giving some groups preferential access to land and jobs.
- Fulani communities feel treated as second-class citizens despite multi-generational presence in Plateau.