Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, convened an emergency meeting of the State Security Council on Wednesday to review the deteriorating security situation across the state, following a series of deadly attacks that have claimed dozens of lives and displaced hundreds of families in recent weeks. The high-level meeting, held at the New Government House in Little Rayfield, Jos, brought together the Deputy Governor, heads of security and law enforcement agencies, and the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, among other top government officials, to assess emerging threats and strengthen measures for sustainable peace.
The deliberations, according to a statement issued after the meeting by the Governor's Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Gyang Bere, focused extensively on emerging security threats, recent incidents recorded in some communities, intelligence gathering and sharing, preventive operations, inter-agency coordination, and strategies for safeguarding lives, property, and economic activities across the state. The meeting came against the backdrop of a particularly devastating attack in Mangu Local Government Area, one of several communities that have borne the brunt of violence in the state. While security agencies had prepared and deployed personnel, the Mangu incident still occurred, a reality that deeply troubled the governor and prompted the urgent convocation of the council.
Speaking after the closed-door session, the Commissioner of Police for Plateau State, CP Ayodeji Faniyan, disclosed that arrests had been made in connection with some of the major attacks recorded in the state over the past month. He assured that investigations were ongoing to establish the identities and roles of other suspects, with security agencies collaborating at both state and national levels. "We have some arrests; investigation is ongoing. We are not investigating in isolation. We are collaborating with all the other agencies up to the national level. We are still going after some suspects, and we are doing a lot of technological analysis," CP Faniyan stated.
CP Faniyan explained that Governor Mutfwang, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, periodically convenes the State Security Council to assess emerging developments, identify gaps, and strengthen existing security measures. "His Excellency Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang is the Chief Security Officer of the State, and once in a while, we review the security situation. We assess the security situation in order to take steps to improve on what we already have," the police commissioner said. He noted that the Mangu case was particularly unfortunate, adding, "We prepared and deployed, but somehow, such incidents still occurred. That is part of why His Excellency called this meeting so that such must not happen again".
The police commissioner assured the people of Plateau State that security agencies had received the marching orders of Governor Mutfwang and would continue to work tirelessly and collaboratively to protect lives and property, prevent criminal activities, and respond swiftly to emerging threats. He appealed to residents to provide security agencies with credible and timely information on suspicious persons, movements, and activities, stressing that effective security depended largely on cooperation between security operatives and members of the public. Faniyan also noted that heightened vigilance had become necessary as the ember months approached and political activities intensified ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Security Council meeting is one of the priority measures of the Mutfwang administration's commitment to consolidating the peace and security required to drive sustainable investment, tourism, agriculture, commerce, and other economic activities across Plateau State. The administration remains resolute in its determination to build a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Plateau where citizens can live, work, and invest with confidence. This meeting follows a series of similar engagements, including an expanded State Security Council meeting in April 2026 with heads of security agencies and chairmen of all 17 local government areas to address rising insecurity. In May 2026, the state government declared that it was "at war with terrorists and enemies of the state" after an emergency Security Council meeting. More recently, Governor Mutfwang had called for a coordinated regional security strategy to confront the worsening insecurity across the North Central, warning that sustained attacks on communities pose a threat to Nigeria's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The recurring violence in Plateau State, particularly in communities like Mangu, Barkin Ladi, and Bassa, has been a source of deep concern. Governor Mutfwang has consistently challenged the dismissive description of these attacks as mere "farmer-herder clashes," instead framing them as organized acts of terror that require a robust and coordinated response. He has also raised concerns about armed attackers moving into Plateau State through porous borders and difficult-to-monitor routes linking parts of the North-West with Taraba and Nasarawa states. The governor had previously visited affected communities, including Nding in Barkin Ladi and Mangu, to condole with families and pledge justice for victims. During these visits, he imposed an immediate ban on night mining and night grazing activities across the state, measures aimed at curbing the activities of criminal elements.
The Security Council meeting on Wednesday marks a critical step in the ongoing effort to restore lasting peace to Plateau State. With arrests already made and investigations intensifying, there is a glimmer of hope that the perpetrators of these heinous acts will be brought to justice. However, the challenges remain immense. The porous borders, the complex nature of the attacks, and the need for sustained inter-agency and regional cooperation are hurdles that must be overcome. The governor's determination, as articulated through these security meetings, signals a resolve to confront the crisis head-on. For the people of Plateau, who have endured years of bloodshed and displacement, the promise of a safer tomorrow hinges on the effective implementation of the strategies discussed at this meeting. The clock is ticking, and the demand for action is louder than ever.
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