Former Commander of Operation Safe Haven and Chairman of the Plateau State Special Fact-Finding Committee, Retired General Rogers Nicholas, has called on the government to adopt grassroots-driven security reforms as a sustainable approach to addressing the persistent violence in Plateau State.
Nicholas made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking at a special security conference organized by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Plateau Security. He shared insights from his tenure managing security in the state and outlined key recommendations based on months of field consultations and analysis by the committee.
Describing the Plateau crisis as a “complex web of historical grievances, ethnic tensions, land disputes, open grazing conflicts, systemic poverty, illegal mining, youth unemployment, porous borders, and a fragile justice system,” Nicholas emphasized the need for holistic and community-rooted interventions.
“One of the key drivers of this crisis is the cycle of reprisal attacks — farmer-herder conflicts that often escalate into community-wide violence,” he said.
He recounted efforts during his tenure as commander, which included trust-building initiatives such as town hall meetings with local and Fulani leaders and the introduction of community-based compensation systems for incidents like cattle rustling and crop destruction. However, he lamented that many of these measures were abandoned after his departure, leading to renewed hostilities.
Nicholas outlined the committee’s top recommendations, including:
- Establishment of Peace and Security Committees in every community, chaired by traditional rulers and inclusive of all ethnic and religious groups.
- Strict enforcement and review of the Plateau State Anti-Land Grabbing Law (2022).
- Creation of designated grazing routes and ranching areas in partnership with local authorities.
- Strengthening the criminal justice system with stiffer penalties for cattle rustling, illegal arms possession, and farmland destruction.
- Formation of an Interstate Joint Security Task Force to enhance collaboration with neighboring states — Kaduna, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Bauchi — to curb cross-border attacks.
- Integration of local vigilante groups into formal security structures like Operation Rainbow to enhance accountability.
- Improved rural communication infrastructure for faster response to security threats, alongside sustained legislative oversight and stakeholder engagement.
In his remarks, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Wale Ahmed (Agege), reaffirmed the House’s commitment to uncovering the root causes of Plateau’s prolonged violence and developing implementable solutions.
“These opportunities have been given to us by the House to find out exactly what are the causes of the perpetual, repeated cycle of violence in Plateau State — and what the solutions are,” Ahmed said. “We are all concerned, and we want the world to know what is happening.”
Ahmed disclosed that the committee had, over the past month, sent 237 letters to institutions and individuals across Plateau State, of which 47 responses had been received, including from the Plateau State House of Assembly, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim Youth Foundation, University of Jos Centre for Conflict Management, Operation Rainbow, Miyetti Allah, as well as traditional councils, emirates, and security agencies.
He added that the committee also met with former Governor Joshua Dariye, who led the state during the 2001 Jos crisis, to draw from his experience.
Ahmed concluded by emphasizing that the committee remains committed to working with civil society organizations, traditional leaders, and security agencies to ensure its final report reflects the collective will and realities of Plateau’s people.
