Shared by Professor Alloy S Ihuah

A Thread of History and Warning. In 1804, Usman dan Fodio launched his Jihad.
He conquered Hausaland. Fine.
But when he reached the Middle Belt, our ancestors stopped him cold: The Jukun Kingdom repelled them.
The Idoma warriors crushed their cavalry.
The Berom, Tiv, Bajju, and Kataf refused Islam and the flag of Sokoto.
Zazzau (Zaria) itself needed 30 years and betrayal from inside before it fell.
That is why up till today Southern Kaduna and Southern Zaria people say loud and clear: “We are not Hausa, we are not Fulani.”
In 1903, the British came and colonised everyone.
The Fulani Emirs begged the British: “Rule us indirectly through us.”
The British agreed and turned the Caliphate into the Native Authority system.
Middle Belt people who never had Emirs were suddenly forced under Fulani District Heads.
That is how places like Keffi, Lafia, Jema’a, and Southern Kaduna got Fulani Emirs imposed on them by colonial pencils.
We have been fighting to remove those colonial mistakes since 1940s.
1950s – Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) was formed.
They called it “One North,” but Ahmadu Bello openly said:
“The mistake of 1914 (amalgamation) must be corrected. Northern Nigeria must be for Northerners, run by Northerners, and developed by Northerners.”
Translation: Middle Belt people are only junior partners whose land and votes will be used to keep power in Sokoto, Kano, and Katsina.
1960–1966 – Every Governor of the Northern Region was Fulani or Hausa.
Military Governors after the coup? Still the same circle.
Middle-Belt produced the soldiers who carried out the 1966 coup, yet when the counter-coup happened, they were massacred in thousands, and power went back to the far North.
1976 – Murtala Mohammed created 19 states.
Middle-Belt cried for their own region. Denied.
Instead, they carved Benue-Plateau, then split it again and again, yet every state capital in the North still has a Fulani Emir or strong Fulani influence in the background.
1999 till today – Count how many Presidents or Vice Presidents have come from Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Southern Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Southern Kebbi, or Adamawa minorities.
Zero.
But our votes are counted as “Northern votes” to keep the North looking big on paper.
The workplace pattern you see today is the same old script:
Young Fulani officer posted under a Middle Belt Director.
Two years later, the Director is “queried,” “redeployed,” or “retired in public interest.”
The young man takes over.
If he dies, another Fulani is flown in from anywhere.
We have seen it in Customs, Immigration, Prisons, NNPC, CBN, Police, Army, name it.

This is not a coincidence. This is a system. That is why when some people now shout “Arewa Republic” or “One North forever,” we in the Middle Belt laugh in Tiv, Berom, Idoma, and Eggon. If Arewa ever becomes a country, RUGA will become law.
Your village land will be taken “for national grazing reserve.”
Your children will learn in school that Usman dan Fodio is their father.
Your traditional rulers will answer to a new Sultan.

We say NEVER AGAIN. Our ancestors bled to keep their freedom in 1804–1808.
We will not surrender it in 2025 on top of ballot papers and sweet slogans. Wake up, Middle Belt child.
Whether you are Tiv, Idoma, Igala, Berom, Mwaghavul, Tarok, Jukun, Igbira, Eggon, Bassa, Ogori, Arago, or Ebira – this is your story. Share this until every Middle Belter understands:
We are not North.
We are MIDDLE BELT.
And we will rather die standing than live on our knees under Arewa.