Mutfwang Vows to Protect Plateau With ‘All That We Have’ as Attacks Persist

Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor 

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, declaring that he will not abandon his responsibility to secure the people and vowing that the state will not be defeated by violence or the gun.

Mutfwang gave the assurance on Sunday at the 2026 Plateau Annual Convention of the General Council of the Assemblies of God Nigeria, North East Zone, held at the church’s Jos District Headquarters in Gyel, Jos South Local Government Area. The convention carried the theme, “Breaking Barriers into Your Next Level.” “I cannot abandon my responsibility of securing the people of Plateau State. We will protect our people with all that we have, within the ambit of the law,” the governor said. He acknowledged that Plateau had passed through difficult moments, particularly in the area of security, but insisted that his administration, in collaboration with security agencies, had continued to strengthen measures aimed at confronting perpetrators of violence and restoring lasting peace.

The governor’s remarks came amid a fresh wave of attacks that have underscored the fragility of security in Plateau State. On September 13, 2026, gunmen killed nine passengers in an attack on a Jos-bound commercial bus at Dungus Junction, Kuru, in Jos South Local Government Area. A separate attack was recorded the same day on Vodni community in Pushit District, Mangu Local Government Area. On September 4, two youths, Joel Bwede, 39, and Justice Dadong, 22, were killed in attacks on Rim and Wereng communities of Riyom Local Council Area. In August, at least 24 people were killed in an attack in Bin-Per, Mangu Local Government Area, prompting the governor to direct security agencies to intensify surveillance and patrols in vulnerable communities. These incidents form part of a broader pattern of violence that has displaced thousands and left communities across the state in a state of perpetual mourning.

The governor has pursued a multi-pronged response to the crisis. In early September, he directed security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration and preventive operations to crush emerging threats. The Commissioner of Police, Ayodeji Faniyan, disclosed after a state security council meeting that arrests had been made in connection with some of the major recent attacks, including in Mangu, with investigations ongoing to identify other suspects. Mutfwang has also called for a coordinated regional security strategy to confront the worsening insecurity across the North Central zone, warning that sustained attacks on communities pose a threat to Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He has argued that leaders must confront the security challenge with honesty, noting that many displaced persons in Plateau State were still unable to return to their communities because the conditions required for safe and sustainable resettlement had yet to be fully established.

The governor’s approach extends beyond kinetic operations. He has directed security agencies to investigate and halt the activities of individuals operating under the name Hisba in parts of Jos North Local Government Area following reports of alleged harassment, extortion and intimidation of residents. He warned that no individual or organisation has the authority to create a parallel system of government or assume powers reserved for legally constituted authorities, stressing that the directive was not targeted at any religion or ethnic group. On the legislative front, Mutfwang has thrown his weight behind the establishment of state police, describing it as a necessary step towards strengthening Nigeria’s internal security architecture. He directed the Plateau State Police Advisory Committee, inaugurated in March 2026, to subject its draft report to broader stakeholder validation, and disclosed that the procurement process for security cameras promised by President Bola Tinubu had commenced. Additional military formations have been approved for deployment to Plateau, including battalions in Riyom, Mangu and Wase, as well as a brigade in Langtang.

During his address at the convention, Mutfwang also appealed to Christian leaders to rise above divisions and become rallying points for unity, peace and progress. “As Christian leaders, we must rise above our differences. We must put aside bitterness, unforgiveness and arrogance. We must embrace humility, love and reconciliation because these are the values that Christ taught us,” he said. He called on citizens to reject the “pull-him-down” syndrome and remain united, stressing that Plateau State would not be defeated by violence. The governor said his involvement in politics was driven by a desire to serve God and humanity, adding that his administration remained focused on changing the negative narrative about Plateau State while pursuing development across critical sectors.

Reactions from religious and community leaders at the convention were supportive. The Executive Council member representing the North East Zone, Rev. Jacob S. Langs, thanked Mutfwang for honouring the invitation and acknowledged his contributions to the development of Plateau State and the church, particularly the opportunities and appointments extended to sons and daughters of the Gyel community. The convention climaxed with a donation by the governor to support widows, empower youths through entrepreneurship initiatives and strengthen the activities of the convention.

Despite these measures, the security situation in Plateau remains precarious. The Berom Youth Moulders-Association has expressed concern over the recurring killings, warning that human lives were increasingly being reduced to mere numbers and that each casualty represents a family shattered and a community left traumatised. The group called on the federal and state governments, as well as security agencies, to do much more to safeguard lives and property. For the people of Plateau, the governor’s pledge represents a commitment to sustained action, but the persistence of attacks suggests that the road to lasting peace remains long and uncertain. Whether the measures outlined by the administration will translate into tangible improvements in security will be the test by which the governor’s words are ultimately judged.

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