Complete List of Tribes in Plateau State Nigeria

*Disclaimer: Due to insufficient data on various Nigerian tribes, we cannot ascertain the completeness or correctness of this information. If you believe that your tribe has been misrepresented or left off this list, please write the editor at idonsabi@gmail.com. Kindly include the name of your tribe and any other information that might be relevant to our research. You can also leave a comment on this article to voice your opinion. 

Plateau is the twelfth largest state of Nigeria, and is located approximately in the center of the country. It is geographically unique in Nigeria because its boundaries surround the Jos Plateau, having the entire plateau in its central and northern part. The capital is Jos.

Plateau State is celebrated as “The Home of Peace and Tourism”, an image that had been fractured in previous years by MuslimChristian clashes in the state but is now recovering as socio-economic activities are now thriving as well as a growth in population in the state. Plateau State gets its name from the Jos Plateau. It has a population of around 3.5 million people.

Jukun Tribe

The tribe is one of the many minority tribes in Plateau state. The peace-loving people of Jukun are farmers and are known to practice Islam and Christianity. Wrappers are tied by men and women of this tribe. Also, meals are made from locally processed millet.

Angas Tribe Image result for Angas Tribe

The Angas tribe is closely related to the Kanuri tribe. This tribe has a lot of cultures that are generally practiced in Africa. It is believed that this tribe migrated from modern-day plateau state. The people of Angas have an old tradition of naming their children according to the situation surrounding the birth. Also, it is the responsibility of the grandfather and sometimes the father to name a new baby. According to ancient Angas tradition, women do not name their children unless permitted by their husbands. The Angas people are also known to bestrode their children long before they understand what marriage is.

Farming is the major occupation of this predominantly Christian tribe. Although the angas people are Christians, they dress just like the Hausa Muslims

Tiv Tribe

Tiv Cultural dancers

This tribe is a minority tribe in Nigeria.It is, however, one of the most popular tribes. There are over 3.5 million Nigerians from this tribe. Although the majority of the Tiv people are found in Benue, a handful of them occupy parts of Plateau state.

This tribe is a Christian tribe. Also, farming and trading are the major occupations of this people. Meals are usually a combination of Soup and Tuwo.

Ankwei Tribe Image result for Ankwei Tribe

The Ankwei tribe is a very small tribe in Plateau state. They are mainly horsemen. The people of this tribe are known for their skillful artworks. They are Christians and are very similar to the other northerners in their modes of dressing, food, and lifestyle.

Rukuba Tribe

The Rukuba people occupy Bassa local government área in Plateau state. They are neighbors with the Irigwe people are always in constant fights over ownership of lands and properties.

Men and women from Rukuba dress like the northern Muslims and eat foods made from millet and maize.

Kanuri Tribe

The Kanuri tribe is a prominent tribe in northern Nigeria. The people of this tribe were great horsemen in the ancient Bornu-Kamnem Empire. The Kanuris in Plateau state migrated from Bornu state. These people are Muslims and farm for a living. They dress and feed just like the Hausas.

Ron Tribe

The Ron people occupy Bokkos local government área of plateau state. They have a population of 115,000 people. The people of Ron share borders with the kulere and mushere people. They are called “Chala” by their neighbors.

The Ron people are similar to the other northerners in their culture, dressing and food. They are Christians and have farming as their major occupation.

Miango Tribe

Miango tribe occupies the Bassa local government área of Plateau state. The people of this tribe are very friendly people. The miango people number a little over 20,000. They have always had a religion-based crisis because of the presence of Christians and Muslims in almost equal numbers.

The miango people are farmers and have adopted quite a number of Hausa customs.

Anagua tribe

The Anagua people are the first residents of present-day Jos. According to history, the Anagua tribe defended the city of Jos against the jihadists in the 19th century. History has it that the Emir of Bauchi attacked them with about 4000 men. The Anagua tribe called their other neighboring tribes together and successfully protected Jos against Islamic attack.

The Anagua tribe is both disadvantaged both politically, numerically and economically. They are predominantly Christians and are farmers by profession.

Afizere Tribe

The people of Afizere are also known as Jarawa and are found in modern-day Jos. They occupy Jos east and Jos north local government areas. They have their roots in Kaduna and migrated to Jos in three phases.  The people of this tribe dress like the Hausas although they are not Hausa. They are a peaceful tribe. In pre-colonial times, the Afizere people loved living on hills. This they believed helped them against the Jihadist invasions of the Fulani.

The Afizere people are basically hunters and practice pastoral farming.

 

Kwalla Tribe

The kwalla tribe occupies part of present-day Jos in Plateau state. The people of Kwalla are farmers and have Christianity and Islam as their major religions. Food, culture, and dressing of the people of this tribe is similar to that of the average northern tribe

Irigwe Tribe

The Irigwe people occupy the Bassa and Barakin Ladi local government areas of Plateau state. They are located about 20 miles from Jos. These people have a population of about 70,000 people. Before contact with Europeans, lots of people in Irigwe practiced polyandry. However, the arrival of Christianity changed this practice.

Farming and trading are the major occupations of this people.

Berom Tribe

The people of Berom occupy four local government areas in Plateau state. Local government areas occupied by this tribe are Riyom, Jos North, Jos south, and Barkin Ladi.

The people of Berom speak the Berom language which is not similar to the Hausa language. This Christianity dominated tribe has farming as its major occupation.

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37 thoughts on “Complete List of Tribes in Plateau State Nigeria

  • October 4, 2018 at 10:14 pm
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    i am a bit confused about the following:
    1. Difference between Irigwe and Miango
    2. Anaguta not Anagua
    3. The Afizere” found in the Mordern Day Jos” Moved from Kaduna in 3 Phases is not only Vague but vile too.
    3. Afizere ..means “the People of Izere” they Speak Izere, practice izere culture, wear traditional cloths or english, dance Izere dance, eat izere food, live in izere land of Jos East, Jos North, Jos South, Bassa and Mangu LGA’s of Plateau State….this was not mentioned.
    4. The Afizere People are predominantly Christians,
    5. Has farming as its major profession and Artistic Skills…….generally naturally blessed.

    5. The Afizere is blessed with artistic skills,

    Reply
  • November 13, 2018 at 9:15 am
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    The Mwaghavul people, most educated tribe on tge plateau. Occupy Mangu LGA an agro-commercial hub on the plateau with a rich culture not similar to the hausa tribe. Peaceful and majorly christian populated.

    Reply
    • May 5, 2021 at 5:56 pm
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      You did not mention the Gana wuri pple occupy a community along between samaru in southern Kaduna and Plateau state
      The Pushit people in mangu Lga
      The Piyalpu tribe of shendam Lga.
      Pls what tribe did the people of Wase Dangi pple speak?
      Am not from Plateau but hav study there and work has taken me across almost all the local govt.

      Reply
  • October 12, 2019 at 8:23 am
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    Why jukuns are at the first at the list? And why listing the tiv people the second tribe.I confuse,I am not from plateau but I just want to know

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    • May 26, 2020 at 7:12 am
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      You have forgforgotforgforgot, about the most educated and socialize peoples on the plateau state which is the mwaghavul people of mangu local government, 99%of the the mwaghavul people practice Christianity and am also confused about the tiv tribe in plateau state is it their origin in plateau state or how am confuse

      Reply
      • May 7, 2021 at 5:54 pm
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        The Tiv are a very large tribe, they even dominated then then Benue-Plateau state until the state was split into two. IIn the 80’s and 90’s, the singularly largest student population by trbe was the Tiv. Their numbers in Plateau State are grossly under reported!

        Reply
      • January 8, 2022 at 5:51 am
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        Ok YOU ALSO FORGET TO MENTION THE BOGGHOM PEOPLE OF KANAM LGA

        Reply
  • October 27, 2019 at 2:49 pm
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    Tal people they are very strong pleople in plateou.

    Reply
  • November 26, 2019 at 4:59 am
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    I DID NOT SEE KWANKA, BIJIM, BUJI AN SO MANY OTHER TRIBE WRITTEN HERE. WHY?

    Reply
  • December 17, 2019 at 4:36 pm
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    PLEASE I CAN FINE MY TRIBE KADUNG WE LIVE IN PANKSHIN LGA AND MANGU

    Reply
  • December 17, 2019 at 4:41 pm
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    My tribe is not found in the list,Kadung language we live in Pankshin LGA Mangu LGA and Quanpan LGA

    Reply
    • June 24, 2020 at 4:38 am
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      Rukuba people lack high institution with in the chiefdom up to now Kisaloi community close to the local government headquarters dont have even a junior secondary school I feel bad about it

      Reply
  • August 28, 2020 at 7:35 pm
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    Why did you forgot my languege ,the tribe with most educated people.I know you understand the tribe i mean.but let me just tell you, the tribe is mwaghavul tribe of intergrety,mighty,and unity.

    Reply
  • September 10, 2020 at 9:05 pm
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    Tarok people ocuppied Langtang north, Langtang south, Wase, and they are found in large number in Shendam LG, Mikang LG and Kanam LG

    Tarok people are 80% christian 20 tradional worshipers

    According to 2006 census Tarok is the second most populous tribe in plateau
    About 500’000 of them

    Reply
  • September 13, 2020 at 10:03 am
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    Please my advice to is that anytime you want to make presentation about people’s history, make proper and comprehensive research, with proven document to support it.
    1) We do not have any tribe on the Plateau that is called Ankwei, it is Gamai in Shendam L.G.A and they are descendants of Kwararafa Kingdom
    2). The tribe that you referred to as Angas is Ngas and they never had anything to do with horses whether for war or as means of transportation.
    3). The Ron tribe that you mention from Bokkos have never been amongst the Ten (10) most populated tribe on the Plateau.

    Reply
  • September 18, 2020 at 8:44 pm
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    The Tarok and Tal tribe are forgotten and what brought TIV from Benue to Plateau?

    Reply
    • May 7, 2021 at 5:56 pm
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      The Tiv are a very large tribe, they even dominated then then Benue-Plateau state until the state was split into two. IIn the 80’s and 90’s, the singularly largest student population by trbe was the Tiv. Their numbers in Plateau State are grossly under reported!

      Reply
      • May 7, 2021 at 6:01 pm
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        *Check the student population at University of JOS in the 80’s and 90’s. The majority tribe if students was Tiv.

        Reply
  • October 24, 2020 at 8:47 am
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    Am surprise at this post oh, TAROK occupied the most largest part of plateau but was not mention why?? What bring kanuri from borno and Tiv from Benue as dominant tribes in plateau?? pls go on research again is a mistake you did sir

    Reply
  • November 14, 2020 at 5:48 pm
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    The BEROM are by far the largest tribe in Plateau State. They are vastly known to be the largest indigenous inhabitants of the Capital – Jos. They are also found in almost the entire northern plateau and in parts of the central zone of Mangu and Bokkos. They are also found in Kaduna State and currently have a Government appointee from its stock in that State.

    Reply
  • December 21, 2020 at 1:27 pm
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    I did not see Duguza (Atunzu) in the list of Plateau tribes, they are found in Jos East, and Bassa Local Governments.

    Reply
  • February 8, 2021 at 7:35 pm
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    What of the people of bijim which are from mango LGA gendiri district the most educated people in plateau state.

    Reply
  • February 27, 2021 at 8:49 pm
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    What of Kadung district in pankshin

    Reply
  • April 13, 2021 at 2:01 pm
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    Is taroh not part of plateau State. For all i no is that no one can give the history of plateau State without mentioning the best tribe which is the taroh. Gritting to the must humble and respectful men of plateau State. I love you all, i am vangvang

    Reply
  • June 10, 2021 at 7:47 pm
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    I can see that you forget my tribe Bijim in Mangu and Panshin LGA.

    Reply
  • June 23, 2021 at 7:03 pm
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    You didn’t mention the kadungs

    Reply
  • June 25, 2021 at 6:51 pm
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    Why Do You Forgot Taroh,the Most Populated tribe In Plateau State found In Langtang north And South,wase,mikang,shendam local Government Area.

    Reply
    • September 30, 2021 at 10:52 am
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      I wonder too. With the kind of description of Miango and Rukuba it’s quite defamatory to say they are constantly in fight because of land issue that’s not how to talk about a tribe please learn to enrich your info before publicising…… what about Fier,Tarok, Bijim, Tambes are they not part of the tribes in Plateau State? Up

      Reply
    • October 30, 2021 at 1:37 pm
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      We have Tarok in mikang but as settlers just the way you have Tehl people in Langtang south in places like; Nagane, Ndingshan, Timmen, faya, Turaki, etc. When you mentioned mikang as one of your local government is mischievous. Thanks bro

      Reply
  • July 11, 2021 at 3:26 pm
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    The Tehl (Montol) people of mikang local government is not among the list. Tehl people occupied the town of Lalin and Tunkus the council headquarters of the local government we also occupied northern part of shendam local government. Tehl people are the majority in mikang local government

    Reply
  • September 2, 2021 at 6:50 am
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    Please update this. why can you mentioned Tiv as plateau tribe and taroh is missing in the list

    Reply
  • September 27, 2021 at 9:09 am
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    1)Next time when posting some vital information thorough research should be made.
    2) Anaguta not anagua
    3) What happens to my tribe Bijim and even kwanka ? Infact plenty tribes were not mention.

    Reply
  • March 11, 2022 at 2:16 pm
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    You didn’t mention PYE PEOPLE FROM DOK PAI in pankshin local government area which there culture didn’t relate in anyway with housa and very strong people.

    Reply

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