A new investigative report published today by the Daily Mail has thrust Nigeria’s Middle Belt back into the global spotlight, as British journalist David Patrikarakos details what he describes as coordinated and brutal attacks on predominantly Christian communities in Plateau State.
In the February 14, 2026 publication, Patrikarakos recounts traveling to frontline settlements including Gwet, where he says he encountered charred homes, burned churches and families forced to flee their ancestral lands.
According to his report, survivors shared chilling accounts of how attackers stormed their communities. One phrase, he wrote, was repeated over and over:
“They roasted the pastor and his wife alive in the church.”
The article paints a picture of widespread devastation. Churches allegedly set ablaze during raids. Farmlands destroyed, deepening food insecurity. Entire families reportedly wiped out in coordinated attacks. Villages emptied as residents escaped further violence.
Patrikarakos says he moved through affected areas under armed escort, describing the Middle Belt as a long standing “faultline” of ethnic and religious tension.
The report attributes the violence to Fulani jihadist elements and armed militants operating within the region.
The report is already gaining traction internationally and is expected to intensify scrutiny of Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
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