By IDNN Defence & Conflict Desk
Published: May 9, 2025
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has attributed the recent surge in violent attacks across Benue, Plateau, and other northern states to foreign herdsmen who infiltrate Nigeria through porous borders, stoking deadly herder-farmer clashes and triggering mass displacement.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, provided rare clarity on the foreign links to Nigeria’s persistent internal security crises.
“When you hear them speak, you can often tell they are not from here. The Hausa spoken in Nigeria differs from that spoken in Mali, the Central African Republic, or Ghana,” Kangye said.
Identity by Language, Accent, Hair
The defence spokesperson explained that linguistic differences, intonation, and even hair texture serve as identifiers separating foreign assailants from local pastoralists.
“When we arrest these herders and terrorists, their accent and physical traits distinguish them clearly. Only the Shuwa Arabs in Borno come close — but still different,” he added.
These remarks confirm long-standing allegations by residents and state governments, who have insisted that many attackers are not Nigerians, but foreign mercenaries exploiting weak regional border control.
Killings, Displacement and Political Fallout
The DHQ’s comments follow months of bloodshed across North-Central Nigeria, particularly in Benue and Plateau, where thousands have been displaced and hundreds killed in coordinated raids on farming communities.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State had earlier alleged that foreign herders were abusing the ECOWAS free movement protocol to enter Nigeria unchecked and wreak havoc.
Kangye confirmed that while some Nigerian herders are guilty of farm encroachments, the most deadly and organized attacks are perpetrated by foreigners.
“Some of those involved are Nigerians. But the most dangerous and frequent attacks come from infiltrators who cross our borders undetected,” he said.
Military Operations Yield Results
Despite the challenges, the military says it is making significant progress. In April alone:
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173 kidnapped victims were rescued
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204 terrorists and their families surrendered
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430 suspects linked to oil theft and criminality were arrested
A notorious arms dealer and kidnap kingpin, Buhari Umar, was arrested after months of evading capture. A five-man kidnapping gang in Nasarawa State was also dismantled.
In the South-East, troops neutralized wanted gang leader, Nkwachi Eze alias Onowu, who had been behind a spate of kidnappings and targeted assassinations.
Oil Theft Crackdown Intensifies
In the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe reported that in just one week:
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Over ₦1.93 billion worth of crude oil theft was thwarted
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Over one million litres of stolen crude oil were recovered
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95 illegal refining sites were dismantled
Call for Border Security Reform
Kangye’s revelations have reignited demands for tighter border surveillance and inter-agency collaboration, with security analysts warning that Nigeria’s internal crises cannot be separated from regional instability.
“We need stronger collaboration between our border agencies and military forces to close these gaps. These are not random attackers — they are highly organized foreign infiltrators,” Kangye stressed.
