Irigwe Tribe Nears Extinction After Decades of Bloodshed

Plateau State, Nigeria– The Irigwe nation, an indigenous tribe in Nigeria’s Plateau State, is fighting for survival after enduring 24 years of relentless attacks by suspected Fulani herders. Community leaders warn that without urgent intervention, their people face extinction

In a joint statement signed by Rev. Daniel Gya (President), Amb. Danjuma Auta (Secretary General), and Samuel Judo David (Public Relations Officer), the Irigwe Traditional Council and Irigwe Development Association revealed that despite repeated peace efforts, the killings continue. The latest victim, 33-year-old Dewi Terry Nah, was stabbed to death on April 2, 2025, in the Twin Hill area—just one of 2,866 recorded attacks since 2002

Research by Gastor Barrie  paints a harrowing picture: over 1,100 deaths, 412 injured, 20,836 homes destroyed, and 27,330 farms ruined in the past two decades. The violence has left entire villages in ruins, with survivors struggling to rebuild amid constant fear.  

While the Plateau State Government pledged to establish a Mobile Police Barracks to improve security, the Irigwe people say  words have not translated into safety

*“We are calling on the government to act before we are wiped out,”* the statement read. *“Perpetrators must be held accountable. The world cannot watch as an entire culture vanishes.”*  

With the attacks escalating, the Irigwe nation is now appealing to Nigeria’s federal authorities, international organizations, and human rights groups to intervene before it’s too late.