Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has urged residents across the state to take responsibility for their own safety following another wave of deadly attacks attributed to suspected armed herders.
Naturenex reports that in the past two weeks, more than 100 individuals have lost their lives in a series of violent incidents across Bassa Local Government Area. The latest tragedy occurred in the early hours of Monday when armed assailants stormed Zike and Kimakpa communities in the Kwall District of Iregwe Chiefdom, killing over 50 people and destroying numerous homes and properties.
Governor Mutfwang, during a visit to the affected areas on Tuesday, lamented the devastating impact of the persistent security breaches on the state’s development. He revealed that his administration had invested in technological solutions to enhance security and curb the rising violence.
“Immediately we assumed office, we took decisive steps and invested heavily in technology just to end these security challenges facing us,” the governor said, as quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He highlighted how insurgency and terrorism have deprived Plateau State of its potential, preventing residents from farming or participating in economic activities.
“There is no reason for us to be where we are; our people cannot go to their farms and engage in any economic venture. But as a government, we are doing everything possible to end these cycles of attacks and killings,” he added.
While consoling the bereaved, Mutfwang assured them that justice would be pursued and the perpetrators held accountable. He also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s support and called on security agencies to double their efforts.
“We are here with all the security apparatus in the state to reassure you that we are committed to your safety. You have every reason not to be happy, but I want to assure you that we have taken steps to correct all the lapses of the past,” the governor said.
Since assuming office in 2023, Mutfwang explained that his government has consistently provided logistics and resources to security forces. However, he emphasized that the fight against insecurity cannot be left to government forces alone.
“But let me remind you that whatever arrangements the security agencies will make may not solve the problem, the solution will come from the communities. We have come to a point in Nigeria, where every community must defend itself,” he stressed.
He also made it clear that while community defense is important, it must not lead to chaos or illegal activity.
“I will not, however, support lawlessness, but we can’t afford to go to sleep,” Mutfwang warned, calling on local youths to be vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their communities.
Governor Mutfwang’s appeal echoes previous calls from figures such as former Defense Minister, General Theophilus Danjuma, who had also advocated for local self-defense in response to the growing insecurity. Critics, however, caution that such advice could increase the risk of further violence, especially if non-state actors begin acquiring weapons unchecked.
For more than ten years, states in northern Nigeria—including Niger, Benue, Taraba, and Kaduna—have suffered recurring attacks, often fueled by clashes over land, grazing rights, and deep-seated ethnic and religious differences. Despite multiple security interventions, peace remains elusive in many of these areas.
