Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has described the recurring killings in the state as “genocidal,” alleging that the persistent attacks on communities are being sponsored by yet-to-be-identified interests.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Jos yesterday, the visibly emotional governor expressed deep concern over the pattern and frequency of attacks, particularly in rural communities across the state.
What we are witnessing is not random violence but a systematic, well coordinated attempt at genocide against certain communities in Plateau State, Mutfwang stated. The evidence suggests these attacks are being sponsored and executed with sophisticated weapons and tactical precision that ordinary bandits cannot muster.
The governor pointed to the recurring nature of the violence, often targeting the same communities during farming seasons, as evidence of a coordinated campaign aimed at displacing indigenous populations and disrupting agricultural activities in the state.
Security reports presented during the meeting revealed that recent attacks have left dozens dead and thousands displaced across several local government areas, with women and children making up a significant number of the casualties.
These are not mere farmer-herder clashes as some would have us believe, the governor emphasized. “The attackers often come at night, well-armed, and target specific settlements with clear intent to eliminate entire families.
Mutfwang called on federal security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering and tactical operations to identify and apprehend those behind the violence. He also urged the Federal Government to deploy additional security personnel to vulnerable communities ahead of the planting season.
Community leaders at the meeting corroborated the governor’s assertions, claiming that attackers often retreat to known locations after their operations without facing interception from security forces.
When contacted, the spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, the military task force responsible for security in Plateau State, assured that they were working closely with the state government to address the security challenges and bring perpetrators to justice.
The situation in Plateau remains tense as communities continue to live in fear of fresh attacks, with many refusing to return to their ancestral homes despite government assurances of improved security measures.
