Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has assured residents that his administration is taking firm steps to prevent a recurrence of the recent wave of deadly attacks that have plagued several communities.
Over the past two weeks, more than 100 people have been killed by gunmen in various parts of the state.
Addressing the situation in a post shared on X, Mutfwang revealed that a high-level security meeting was held on Monday, bringing together security agency heads and local government chairmen. The session followed a fresh attack on April 14 that left another trail of destruction in its wake.
“At around midnight, into the early hours of today, over a hundred bandits descended on one of the communities in Bassa local government area, leaving behind a trail of destruction, numerous lives lost and several houses destroyed,” Mutfwang said.
He noted that the government had received comprehensive updates from security agencies regarding the incident and is working to uncover the underlying causes to mount a robust response.
“We are working diligently to establish exactly what happened and why, so that we can respond appropriately and prevent such incidents in the future,” he added.
The governor emphasized that security has now been restored to the affected areas and urged citizens to resist the urge for retaliation, which could worsen the crisis.
“We have engaged with the affected community, urging the people to remain calm and avoid any retaliatory actions that could further escalate tensions,” he said.
“We are grateful that the youths of the community listened to our appeal.”
Mutfwang said his administration is considering substantial and long-term measures to tackle the root causes of insecurity and pledged to reveal more details in a scheduled broadcast on Tuesday.
“In the meantime, I want to reassure the people of Plateau state that we are firmly in control of the situation, and we will go to any length necessary to prevent a recurrence,” he said.
“I also want to encourage citizens across the state: if you come across any intelligence, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please report it to the authorities.
We are committed to protecting the sources of information, ensuring that no life is at jeopardy.”
He added that the state government is investing in improving intelligence gathering and operational coordination.
“By God’s grace, we are working to strengthen our capacity for intelligence gathering,” the governor stated.
He concluded his remarks by expressing condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.
“We continue to pray that God will comfort the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident,” he said.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International disclosed on Monday that at least 54 people were confirmed dead in the April 14 attack. The rights group also reported that hundreds of residents have been displaced and are now gripped by fear of further violence.
Former Minister of Sports and Social Democratic Party (SDP) chieftain, Solomon Dalung, commented on the worsening insecurity, attributing the proliferation of criminal groups nationwide to the unresolved insurgency in the North-East.
In response to the ongoing violence, President Bola Tinubu has tasked Governor Mutfwang with addressing the deeply rooted communal tensions that continue to fuel conflict in Plateau.
