Mutfwang Mobilises Plateau Stakeholders Against Criminals

Jos – Plateau State Governor has urged stakeholders in the State to stand with him in the fight to redeem the Plateau heritage saying almost all the 17 local government areas in the State are plagued with insecurity.

Mutfwang made the plea at an expanded stakeholders meeting held on Monday at the Government House in Jos with those in attendance cutting across ethnic, political, religious, and other divides across Plateau State.

The Governor, in a remark, before the meeting went into a closed-door session, commended the stakeholders for turning up for the meeting despite their diverse affiliations and urged them to join with him to reclaim Plateau State, preserve it, and nurture it for the benefit of future generations.

He said, “You are aware of the events of the last three weeks, which have once again pushed our State to the front burner of national discourse—unfortunately, for the wrong reasons.

“Two days after being sworn in, I convened a Security Council meeting. We engaged in a lot of discussions with communities and their leaders. Things calmed down—until we woke up to a ruthless attack on 2023 Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and into Boxing Day in Bokkos that claimed not less than 150 lives in one sweep.

“From January 2024 till February 2025, even though there were sporadic incidents here and there, we did not experience anything close to the magnitude of what has recently occurred—first in a community called Ruwi in Bokkos, and then it spread to other parts. Just over 10 days ago, it extended into Bassa Local Government Area. At the last count, we have probably lost well over 100 people.

“In Bassa, I’m told the community documented all the attacks and deaths that took place between 2015 to date. Many would be shocked to learn that nearly 3,000 people were lost, particularly in the Miango axis.”

The Governor reiterated, “There is no senatorial zone in this State that is without its share of conflict. In Wase, for instance, a grazing reserve was developed as far back as the days of Northern Nigeria, that area has been inaccessible.

“Kanam has also come under siege. The intelligence we are getting from Pandam (Qua’an Pan LGA) is very disturbing—it has become a haven for kidnappers and a sort of stock exchange for ransom transactions. Many of the kidnappings that took place in Shendam have also been linked to Pandam.

“Bokkos and Mangu have been severely hit, particularly in the last two years. The crisis has even spread into Pankshin. Kanke is not spared either—reports of kidnappings there are becoming alarming.

“In the Northern Zone, perhaps the only local government that might appear relatively calm is Jos North. But that does not mean Jos North has been spared. One of the most dangerous cultic groups—Sarasuka—operates there, and we have been trying to tackle them. That cult group has taken many lives.

“Border communities in Jos South have come under tremendous siege recently—not to mention Riyom and Barkin Ladi that have experienced long-term instability. In essence, Plateau is under siege. Why us? Who is behind this? Where are they coming from? Who is sponsoring them? What is their aim?”

He further charged the Plateau stakeholders, “We must rise together and ensure that this blessed land God gave us is preserved and that we maximize the blessings embedded in it. While I am open to suggestions—because I don’t possess a monopoly of wisdom—I also believe we have a duty to speak up.

“When I came on board, the dominant narrative at national and international levels was that Plateau is suffering from a clash between farmers and herders. I ask you, sir, is that true?

“How can bandits occupy the Wase grazing reserve, and someone calls that a clash? How can they be in forests in Kanam, and someone says it is a clash? When it happened in December 2023 in Bokkos, when gunmen attacked defenseless communities with sophisticated weapons on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, what clash was that?

“Isn’t it time we all unite to reject this falsehood? I look forward to the day when—regardless of religion or ethnicity—any of us is attacked and we all speak with one voice, saying: what is happening on the Plateau is nothing short of genocide perpetrated by terrorists.”

Mufwang lamented that many advisers may want to “mislead President Bola Tinubu into believing we are the aggressors, or that we are intolerant,” but, “We must come together. This is the time to hold one another’s hands, not throw each other under the bus.”

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