Alex Barbir, an American missionary, says Nigeria is experiencing conditions that amount to war, citing persistent killings across parts of the country.
Barbir spoke on Thursday during an interview on News Central.
His comments follow recent attacks in Plateau and other parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
He said he has witnessed repeated violence since arriving in the country, including attacks near military locations.
“When I first arrived in Nigeria, I saw people killed near military barracks and checkpoints. Villages were burned and dozens were killed,” he said.
Barbir said he recently visited the scene of an attack in Jos shortly after the incident occurred.
“When people are massacred just minutes from your location, it doesn’t take long to get there. I could walk to the scene,” he said.
He described the attacks as organised and coordinated, rather than isolated incidents.
“This is not random criminality. You have hundreds of fighters attacking multiple villages at the same time,” he said.
Barbir cited incidents in Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, and other communities where coordinated assaults led to mass casualties.
He said the scale and pattern of the violence point to a broader security crisis.
“In every state, you see security forces deployed and people still being killed. If that is not war, what is war?” he asked.
Barbir added that the violence cuts across religious lines, affecting both Christians and Muslims.
He said he had also witnessed attacks in Kwara state, where communities were destroyed.
“They came at night, killed people, burned homes, and took over villages,” he said.
He warned that the continued attacks across different regions show a level of coordination that demands urgent attention.
“People are being massacred across Nigeria. This is war being waged on the people,” he said.
