publisher of The Eyewitness Newspaper, Donatus Nadi Emerges CMBIJ Chairman

By David Odama

Worried by the growing insecurity and renewed calls for cohesion across the Middle Belt, the Coalition of Middle Belt Indigenous Journalists (CMBIJ) has inaugurated its newly elected executive leadership, placing unity, peace and community safety at the heart of its mandate.

The ceremony marked the formal assumption of office by Mr. Donatus Nadi, publisher of The Eyewitness Newspaper, as Chairman of the coalition, which brings together indigenous journalists from across the Middle Belt region.

Speaking at the inauguration on Saturday, Nadi underscored the urgent need for unity among the region’s diverse ethnic nationalities, describing cohesion as a matter of survival rather than convenience.

“The Middle Belt is a mosaic of cultures, languages and traditions. Our strength lies in our unity,” he said. “As journalists, we must lead by example by promoting narratives that heal, unite and strengthen our people.”

The event, attended by journalists, community leaders and representatives of various ethnic groups, also served as a sober reflection on the worsening security situation across parts of the region.

Nadi condemned the recent killings in Ashige community of Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, where armed attackers reportedly invaded the area, leaving several residents dead. He also decried the violence in Bum community of Jos South Local Government Area, Plateau State, which has resulted in loss of lives and heightened communal tensions.

“These senseless acts of violence are an assault on our shared humanity,” Nadi said. “We cannot remain silent while our communities bleed. The media must continue to expose these atrocities and demand accountability.”

Beyond condemnation, the CMBIJ chairman called on political, traditional and community leaders to deepen peacebuilding efforts through dialogue, early warning mechanisms and community-based security initiatives. He also urged sustained advocacy for federal intervention to address root causes such as marginalisation, exclusion and resource-based conflicts.

“Our role as indigenous journalists is not only to record history but to help shape a future defined by peace and inclusion,” he added.

The Coalition of Middle Belt Indigenous Journalists represents media practitioners committed to amplifying issues affecting states including Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Kogi, Gombe, Niger, Nasarawa and Taraba, as well as parts of Borno, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kebbi and Kwara.

Under Nadi’s leadership, the coalition said it would prioritise professional capacity building, combating misinformation and strengthening advocacy for press freedom in a region often sidelined in national discourse.

Participants at the event expressed confidence in the new leadership. A Benue-based journalist, Mr. Terna Aar, said the coalition was now better positioned to confront insecurity and underdevelopment in the region.

As Nigeria grapples with persistent ethno-religious and communal tensions, the inauguration of the CMBIJ leadership signals a renewed commitment to responsible journalism, regional solidarity and peacebuilding in the Middle Belt.