Activist and social media commentator Masara Kim Usman has intensified his criticism of security analyst Zagazola Makama, accusing him of consistently misrepresenting the security situation in Plateau State and undermining the experiences of communities affected by violence.
In a strongly worded statement released on social media, Masara challenged Zagazola’s claims of neutrality, arguing that his reports and commentaries have often downplayed attacks in Plateau and other parts of the Middle Belt.
“You cannot claim neutrality while downplaying attacks in Plateau.”
Masara said the latest exchange followed comments by Zagazola regarding a video he shared from a mass funeral in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, insisting that the footage was authentic and reflected the realities faced by affected communities.
According to him, attempts to dismiss the concerns raised in the video without proper investigation raise questions about the standards applied in conflict reporting.
“His series of statements, rehashing the same weak arguments, shows how incompetent he is to identify as an analyst, much less a security expert whose role is rooted in evidence and verification.”
The activist further accused Zagazola of promoting the farmer-herder conflict narrative in situations where communities insist they are victims of organised attacks and displacement.
He argued that commentators covering insecurity should apply the same level of scrutiny to all sides rather than selectively questioning local accounts of violence.
“The public deserves the truth about Plateau violence, not narratives designed to explain away the suffering of victims.”
Masara also questioned Zagazola’s credentials as a security expert, maintaining that expertise in security and conflict matters requires rigorous academic and professional grounding.
“Security expert is not a title one can just pick up along the road or buy from a store. It is earned through long, hard study and research.”
He further alleged that some of Zagazola’s past reports had contributed to narratives that affected communities consider misleading, particularly regarding attacks in Plateau and other Middle Belt states.
Masara maintained that communities that have suffered repeated attacks deserve fair representation and accurate reporting, rather than what he described as efforts to recast violence through selective interpretations.
“Credibility is earned through facts, consistency, and a willingness to subject every narrative to scrutiny.”
