Too Many Graves, Too Little Action: A Cry from Plateau State

By Ken Dabilong, UK

In the heart of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, Plateau State, once known for its serene landscapes and vibrant cultures, has become a recurring scene of grief, violence, and unanswered questions. Over the years, and especially in recent months, communities across the state have been plunged into mourning, forced to bury loved ones who fell victim to brutal attacks by unidentified gunmen, bandits, or herders. The cycle is tragically familiar: the sound of gunfire, the cries of survivors, the hurried burials, and then, silence.

Too many graves, too little action. That is the sad reality facing Plateau today. Villages are emptied overnight, families are shattered, and lives are destroyed, while perpetrators roam free or remain unidentified. For the people living under the shadow of this violence,it is not just the bodies in the ground; it is the absence of justice, the failure of protection, and the deafening silence of those in power that hurts even more.

Each attack leaves behind not only bodies but trauma, fear, and a growing distrust in the system. The government’s repeated promises of investigations, security reinforcements, and community engagement are starting to sound hollow to those who have buried children, parents, and neighbors. For every massacre that makes headlines, countless others go undocumented, unspoken, and unacknowledged.

This is not just a security failure; it is a humanitarian crisis. The continued inaction sends a dangerous message that some lives are disposable, that justice is selective, and that rural communities must fend for themselves.

Plateau does not need more visits from officials bearing condolences. It needs policy, protection, and prosecution. It needs urgency. It needs accountability. And above all, it needs Peace.

To the world, Plateau may be a news flash. But for its people, it is a daily fight for survival, dignity, and the right to live without fear.

How many more graves will it take before action replaces rhetoric? The time for promises has passed. Plateau deserves more than pity it deserves peace and justice

Ken Dabilong is the incoming General Secretary of Plateau State Association, UK