Herders have taken over our lands – Plateau prophet, Dangyang cries out

A man of God from Jos, Plateau State, Prophet Jacob Dangyang, has sparked a new controversy by claiming that Fulani people have taken control of land in his community of Fass District in Riyom Local Government Area.

Dangyang, the General Overseer of the Global UpperRoom Revival Ministries, made the allegations in a post he shared on his social media accounts on Wednesday. He accused the Fulani of repeatedly invading Fass communities, killing and driving residents away, then occupying the villages, raising their flags and renaming the areas.

In the post, the prophet recounted growing up in the village where people had lived peacefully with Fulani herders who came to graze cattle during the dry season and returned to their own enclaves in the rainy season without causing trouble.

He questioned how the once peaceful herders had become “volatile and heartless killers.”

“When I was a little boy, I grew up in my village called Fass. For many years, Fulani herders would come during the dry season and stay temporarily on our farmland. Their cattle would help fertilize the land, and when the rainy season arrived, they would leave. After harvest, they would return. This arrangement continued peacefully for generations.”

“But one day, everything changed. The visitors violently took over the village and became the owners of the land. My parents and many other indigenous families lost their farmlands. The people who once owned and cultivated the land became strangers in their own home.”

“Today, Fass has become a Fulani‑dominated community. Many of the original landowners no longer live there. As I speak, I do not have farmland in my own village. The place my parents called home is no longer ours,” he lamented.

Dangyang also said that whenever he speaks out against the alleged atrocities, he receives threats and condemnation from authorities who accuse him of stirring unrest in the state.

“Whenever I raise my voice about this issue, some people tell me not to speak, that I’m causing unrest. But how can I remain silent when my family and many others have lost so much?” he asked.

He added that he would not stay silent as long as the “terrorists” continued to wreak havoc across the state.

“And to be honest, I have not even started talking about what is happening across Plateau. There is still a lot that needs to be said. Our stories matter. Our history matters. Our rights matter.”

“They have been calling for my arrest because I asked the church to defend themselves. The land of Plateau will fight against the enemies of Plateau and Jesus Christ will give us victory.”

“Yes, I said the church should buy weapons and defend themselves and some stupid people are calling for my arrest. Why can’t they arrest those coming to kill, kidnap people in churches?”

“So church should not defend itself? So we’ve become fools to sit and be killed?” Prophet Dangyang asked.