HARD TRUTH: Why Muslims’ designation as settlers, killers of Christians should stop in Plateau State – Concerned Nigerians
*As Jama’atu Nasir Islam buries members killed in crisis, calls for peace
*With members calling for justice over crimes against humanity in the state, past and present
By NASRUDEEN ABBAS and OUR REPORTER, Jos, Abuja
“May Allah be with the Muslims of Plateau State and Nigeria,” he concluded in an emotion laden matter, asking why those designating Muslims as killers of Muslims never remembered the Islamic cleric, Imam Abubakar who saved 300 Christians inside his own mosque to avoid from being killed by the same unknown bandits and Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) who is the only religious leader known for true peace abd unity project for Nigerians to live together in peace why seeing their diversity as their strength.
After decades of unimplemented reports of Commissions of Inquiries including that of Bola Ajibola, yet another religious killings claiming members of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and some members of Beron Christian community who insist the Muslims (Hausa-Fulani) in the state are settlers has resurfaced.
This sad event occurred after what has now become usual insecurity incidents in parts of Nigeria with Anguwan Rukuba not excluded and a number of citizens were killed in the bandit attacks the Berons backed by alleged United States of America backed foreign and local Christian elements perceived and claimed to be part of purported Christian genocide in the country and thus incited the Christians in particularly Plateau State buy take arms and fight their Muslim neighbours as witnessed in hitherto widely circulated video involving American citizen Alex Barbir and Nigeria’s Islam/Muslim hate preacher, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo.
Alex Barbir had reportedly left Nigeria following mounting public pressure and calls for investigation over his inciting comments linked to the violence in Plateau State and other locations in the North Central.
The development was as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday April 2 visited Plateau State to console victims of the March 29 gunmen attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos, which left at least 27 people, Muslims and Christians, dead and several others injured.
There were strong indications that Barbir, described by some as an alleged United States undercover operative, departed the country on Thursday April 2 after Nigerians across religious, ethnic, and political lines demanded that the Federal Government and security agencies investigate and deport him.
They cited concerns that his presence at conflict sites and his online comments were exacerbating tensions in an already fragile security environment.
Several prominent figures, including former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad, Islamic scholar Ahmad Gumi, and concerned citizen and public analyst, Zara Oyinye, publicly called on the authorities to take swift and lawful steps to investigate, apprehend where necessary, and ensure accountability to safeguard peace, unity, and public order.
Some also urged the Federal Government to deport the American citizen, warning that his continued stay in Nigeria could trigger further unrest.
Barbir, who had at times allegedly presented himself as a missionary or a United States security agent, later confirmed his departure in a post on X.
In the post, he appeared to mock critics, writing that now that he had left, Nigeria should become peaceful, without killings, kidnappings, or attacks.
Responding, Tinubu’s Aide Bashir Ahmad disputed the narrative that Barbir left voluntarily, stating that he was ordered by authorities to leave immediately after allegedly denying it earlier.
He further accused Barbir of coming to Nigeria with a mission to incite division, adding that such efforts had failed and describing his exit as good riddance.
While some social media users suggested Barbir’s remarks could be sarcastic, Ahmad maintained that the departure was confirmed and not a matter of interpretation.
Reactions on social media have been mixed, although many users praised those who raised concerns about Barbir’s inflammatory remarks, particularly those directed at President Tinubu and Islam, which could incite tensions between Muslims and Christians.
One user noted that calling him out was the right step and expressed hope that his supporters would now understand his alleged motives.
The Jama’atu Nasir Islam (JNI) in the state had, however, buried four of its members killed in the Anguwan Rukuba attack in Jos, Plateau State, and urged the public to remain calm and prioritize peace.
Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has buried four of its members who were killed during the recent attack on Anguwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack, which occurred on night of Sunday April 5, 2026, left 27 people dead and many others injured, according to police reports.
On Saturday April 4, select family members of the deceased, alongside the Chief Imam of Jos Central Mosque, Sheikh Ghazali Ismaila Adam, conducted the funeral prayer at Babale Burial Cemetery before laying the victims to rest.
The prayer was held at the cemetery to prevent tension in the area.
Leading the prayer, the Chief Imam condoled with the affected families and urged patience, describing the tragedy as a decree from Allah. He also appealed to the public to avoid statements that could escalate tensions, stressing that peace should remain paramount.
It would be recalled that the Plateau State chapter of JNI had earlier confirmed the deaths of four of its members, while ten others remain missing following the attack.
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Police confirmed that the violence claimed 27 lives, both Muslims and Christians, and caused widespread injuries.
Eyewitnesses told reporters that gunmen on motorcycles invaded the community around 7:30 pm, firing indiscriminately and creating panic among residents.
In a statement on Tuesday April 7, Dr. Salim Musa Umar, Secretary of JNI, confirmed the deaths of four Muslims and the ongoing search for ten missing members.
He said the bodies of the victims had been identified at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), while two others were receiving treatment at the hospital.
JNI is in contact with the families and urged the public to remain calm, appreciating the government’s efforts to stabilize the situation.
An elder brother of one of the deceased, Kabir Yusuf, recounted the attack on his younger brother, Abubakar Yusuf.
According to him, Abubakar was returning from Fobur community, where he had gone to buy tomatoes with N700,000, when attackers struck.
“On their way back, they were ambushed in Anguwan Rukuba. His friend, who was on the motorcycle with him, was injured but survived. The hoodlums hit Abubakar on the head, and he fell to the ground,” Kabir Yusuf said.
In the meantime, the issue of “who a settler is” that has always characterised the Jos side of the collective security challenges in country has resurfaced with a source citing an archive evidence to show that Muslims, like in Yoruba Land and other Nigerian societies, had been deeply rooted in the indigeneity of Jos and other parts of today’s administratively Plateau State as far back as 1909.
According to the document, “In the picture above is the certificate of commendation from the British colonial government under King George VI, issued in 1942 to the Village Head of Bukuru, Malam Muhammadu, in Jos Division, Plateau Province, which is the present day capital of the Jos South Local Government Area; over the Village Head’s services to his country, people and the British government, and excellent 33 years of service.
“What this certificate indicates is that the Village Head had been on that seat since 1909, five years before the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorate in 1914 to form Nigeria.
“Yet, this is a man and his people whom the Christians in Plateau state are calling settlers, just because they are Muslims,” the source referred, adding that all that is needed to achieve permanent peace in Plateau State is for people in political administration both at Federal and state levels to stand up to their constitutional responsibilities of wielding the will power to enforce it.
The source stated this while expressing worries that Muslims would be blamed as killers of Christians in a state where “The Governor is a Christian, the Deputy Governor is a Christian, 21 Commissioners are all Christians, 9 Directors across ministries are all Christians, 20 of the Governor’s special advisers are Christians, 99.9% of the 8 Security Agencies are dominated by Christians, Heads of all the security agencies are Christians, the majority religion is Christianity and the minority religion is Islam. Yet the Plateau State people especially the Beron Christians, who openly and boastfully justified their masacre of over 1,000 Muslims in Sallah Day in August 2011 and have killed several Muslim figures including the then newly retired Major General Idris Alkali, claim Muslims are killing Christians.”
In the submission of the source, which is also in circulation via social media to him avoid being buried by Christian dominated Nigerian media, it was pointed out that, “We don’t think there is any human with rational thinking who will believe that Muslims are blamable for the killings that are not only of Christians but also largely Muslim victims in Plateau State.”
According to him, “Our advice to Muslims of Plateau State is that it’s high time you stood up and fought for your rights. Get yourself into politics. Stop this nonsense mentality of saying, ‘We left the political offices for them for peace to reign.’ Get yourself a better candidate who will protect your lives because, from the way things are going, these people will never allow you to rest.
“They slaughtered travelers, but they were pardoned. They slaughtered themselves and still pushed the blame on you, seeking their government to prosecute you, even though most of them testify that the perpetrators are unknown. But when the culprits are caught and it happens that they are Christians, they turn a blind eye because it doesn’t fit their narrative.
“Why are they not saying anything about the Reverend Father arrested for supplying firearms to terrorists? What happened to the church treasurer who kidnapped his pastors along with his friends? What happened to the pastor who hired people to kill the Governor’s father?
“What happened to the killers of General Idris Alkali? What happened to the killers of the 26 Maulud travelers in 2021? What happened to the killers of the Zaria wedding travelers in 2024? What happened to the killers of 5 Muslim traders killed during fasting in 2026? What happened to the killers of 5 Muslims killed in a filling station?
“May Allah be with the Muslims of Plateau State and Nigeria,” he concluded in an emotion laden matter, asking why those designating Muslims as killers of Muslims never remembered the Islamic cleric, Imam Abubakar who saved 300 Christians inside his own mosque to avoid from being killed by the same unknown bandits and Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) who is the only religious leader known for true peace abd unity project for Nigerians to live together in peace why seeing their diversity as their strength
