Governor Caleb Mutfwang has announced new measures to strengthen security across Plateau State following a high-level Security Council meeting held on Friday.
The meeting, chaired by the governor, was attended by the Deputy Governor, senior government officials, and heads of security agencies in the state.
Speaking after the session, Mutfwang said the council reviewed security developments recorded over the past two weeks, including a mining-related incident in Wase Local Government Area and a series of attacks that claimed lives in different communities.
He expressed condolences to the affected families, describing many of the deaths as avoidable.
“We have just finished a very high-level security council meeting where we examined all that has happened on the Plateau in recent days,” the governor said, noting that new measures had been put in place to prevent a recurrence.
Mutfwang commended security agencies for their response to recent incidents and assured residents that efforts were ongoing to improve response time to distress calls.
Condemning attacks on travellers and communities, he stressed that the government would not tolerate lawlessness.
“Every life on the Plateau is sacred, and the government will not sit idle and allow people to take the law into their hands,” he said.
The governor further announced that only authorised law enforcement agencies would be permitted to mount roadblocks, warning that illegal checkpoints would no longer be tolerated. He also cautioned communities against attacking travellers, stating that local leaders would be held accountable where such incidents occur.
Mutfwang dismissed claims that roads in the state were generally unsafe, describing them as attempts to exaggerate isolated incidents, and urged residents to remain law-abiding and vigilant.
On the use of social media, the governor warned against misinformation and incitement, stressing that the government would take action against individuals who use online platforms to fuel violence. He also commended youths in the state for showing restraint despite recent tensions.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, Bassey Ewah, said security agencies were deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to reassure residents and restore public confidence.
“Where the need arises, the law will be applied without prejudice to anybody,” he said, adding that security operatives were on the trail of those responsible for the recent attacks and that coordinated efforts were ongoing to maintain peace across the state.
