“A Tribe on the Brink of Extinction”: Irigwe Nation Pleads for Help

From Tongnaan Bawa Jos

The Irigwe nation, an indigenous tribe in Plateau State, Nigeria, said they are facing an existential threat due to relentless attacks and killings by suspected Fulani herders.

In a statement jointly signed by Rev. Daniel Gya PhD, Amb. Danjuma Auta and Samuel Judo David, President, Secretary General and Public relations officer respectively said despite efforts to broker peace, the violence persists, leaving the tribe on the verge of extinction.

They explained that the Recent Attack which occurred on April 2, 2025, a 33-year-old Dewi Terry Nah was stabbed to death in the Twin Hill area. This incident is part of a larger pattern of violence that has plagued the Irigwe nation since 2001.

In a devastating Statistics according to research by Gastor Barrie between 2001 and March 2025, there were 2,866 and of 1,107 of death, 412 injured, 2 rape cases, 20,836 homes destroyed 742, barns destroyed, while 27,330 farms were destroyed.

They maintained that the Irigwe Traditional Council and the Irigwe Development Association have appealed to the Nigerian government, security agencies, and international organizations to intervene and put an end to the rampant violence.

According to the statement,”The Plateau State Government promised to establish a Mobile Police Barracks to bolster security efforts. The Irigwe nation is calling for more decisive action to prevent their extinction”.

“The Irigwe nation is urging all stakeholders to come together and ensure peace in the region. “We are calling on the government to match their words with action and to hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes”