21/08/2025
*WE ARE NOT NORTHERNERS!*
*We are Bigger Than the North*
The misconception that the Tiv people and other minority tribes of the Middle Belt belong “the North” was deliberately created by the British colonial government in conspiracy with Northern elites. This was done after the Tiv and other tribes of the Middle Belt united against the Europeans during slavery and also brought an end to the Islamic Jihad.
The Europeans never succeeded in forcefully entering the region now called the Middle Belt (or Central Nigeria). Instead, they wrongly tagged it as “North Central,” against the will of the people who inhabited the area.
Ancient Settlement
The Tiv people arrived in present-day Cameroon and Nigeria(Karagbe) around 6,000 BC, settling on both sides of Ifi i Karagbe (the Benue and Niger Rivers). This territory stretched from Garoua in present-day Northern Cameroon to Lokoja in present-day Kogi State, Nigeria.
Between 6,000 BC and 1500 AD, the Tiv people firmly established their territory, living in peace and forging friendships with other small tribes that later migrated into the region.
The Struggle Against Slavery (1500–1800)
The years 1500–1800 were turbulent due to the transatlantic slave trade. Vulnerable tribes fled from different parts of the country and found refuge in the Middle Belt. The Tiv people, together with their neighbors, stood united against slavery, making the region a safe haven for the oppressed.
The Stand Against Jihad
The people of the Middle Belt also fought together against the Fulani Jihadists, who had conquered the Hausa states in the far North. The advance of the Jihad came to an end in the Middle Belt, where the resistance proved too strong for the invaders.
Colonial Manipulation
After Lagos, the Northern Caliphate, and the Benin Kingdom fell into British hands, the colonialists amalgamated Nigeria in 1914—but they had never conquered the Middle Belt, the largest region geographically.
From 1900 to 1960, the tribes of the Middle Belt resisted colonial rule fiercely, just as they had resisted slavery and Jihad. Because of this defiance, the British excluded them from major political structures. Northerners and Southerners were used as interpreters, messengers, and administrators, while the Middle Belt endured punishment under the brutal force of machine guns.
After Independence
With Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the struggle to capture the Middle Belt intensified. The British feared that if recognized as an independent region—like the East or Niger Delta—the Middle Belt would rise to disrupt Nigeria’s balance of power.
Through Islamic leadership and political manipulation, the Northern elites laid claim to the Middle Belt. The British also fueled divisions among the minority tribes, creating mistrust and disunity where once there had been strong solidarity.
The Fight for Identity
Despite all attempts, the people of the Middle Belt continue to reject the false identity of being called Northerners.
We demand recognition of our region by its rightful name: *THE MIDDLE BELT (CENTRAL NIGERIA).*
*Importance of the Middle Belt*
- Food Basket: The Middle Belt produces about 70% of Nigeria’s food supply.
- Population: With over 50 million people, it is the second most populated region in Nigeria.
- Economy: It has the second-highest purchasing power in the country.
- Geography: It is the largest region by landmass, covering Plateau, Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Niger, Benue, Kwara, FCT, Southern Bauchi, and Southern Kaduna.
Political Manipulation of States
In 1967, just seven years after independence, the Middle Belt was divided:
- Gongola State (later Adamawa & Taraba in 1976) was merged into the North East.
- Benue-Plateau State (created in 1967) was later split into Benue and Plateau, and subsequently broken into more states.
This division was intentional, designed to weaken the unity and political strength of the Middle Belt.
The Truth
The Middle Belt was never part of the Northern Caliphate.
It was never conquered by the Jihadists who established the Sokoto Caliphate.
It should never be called “North Central.”
We are the People of the Middle Belt.
We are Central Nigeria.
*For the full history, read The Battle of Karagbe: The Forbidden History.*
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