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Gov. Mutfwang visits attacked Plateau communities, vows end to killings
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, on Monday, visited communities attacked by gunmen in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Mutfwang toured affected settlements alongside Bernard Doro, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
The visit followed recent attacks on Nding and neighbouring communities, where gunmen killed residents, injured others, and destroyed property worth millions.
The governor met grieving families and community members, offering condolences and assurances of stronger security intervention.
He later joined traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders at a town hall meeting in Barkin Ladi.
Mr Mutfwang said his administration remained determined to restore peace across every troubled community in Plateau.
He said, “Let me convey my sincere condolences to the good people of Barkin Ladi.
“Particularly, I mourn with families who have lost loved ones during these painful attacks.”
The governor admitted that recurring violence in recent weeks had deeply unsettled both residents and the government.
He said, “The security challenges in our communities, extending even to Barkin Ladi town, have left us greatly worried.
“As your leader, I have come to assure you clearly that we are prepared to protect this state.”
Mr Mutfwang said government intelligence confirmed the presence of terrorists in some communities around Barkin Ladi.
He assured residents that security forces would soon flush out criminal elements from their hideouts.
The governor praised President Bola Tinubu for supporting ongoing efforts to end violence in Plateau.
He said, “Those who have chosen to disturb the peace of our land will find no peace. Our capacity to confront these terrorists is not in doubt.
“I assure you the President wants every terrorist removed from our territory and remains committed.”
Mr Mutfwang warned political actors against exploiting the state’s security crisis for partisan interests.
He urged security agencies to intensify operations and ensure criminals were decisively confronted.
The governor called on community and religious leaders to unite across ethnic and faith lines.
He said collective unity remained essential in confronting criminal networks threatening peaceful coexistence.
Mr Mutfwang also urged youths to reject cattle rustling and other criminal activities.
He encouraged them to channel their strength toward protecting their communities from external attackers.
The governor warned against night grazing, underage grazing, and illegal night mining.
He stressed that his administration would not tolerate activities capable of worsening insecurity.
Mr Mutfwang appealed to residents to remain law-abiding and avoid reprisal attacks.
He said peaceful cooperation with authorities would strengthen efforts to restore lasting stability.
(NAN)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that 11 African countries recorded active transmission of mpox in the six weeks between 6 July and 16 August 2026, with 1,153 confirmed cases and seven deaths.
The organisation disclosed this in its Mpox: Multi-country External Situation Report published on 14 September.
According to the report, Madagascar recorded 785 cases, the highest during the period, followed by Angola with 184, Kenya with 94, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with 41, and Cameroon with 28.
WHO noted that “reported weekly confirmed cases have remained somewhat stable on the continent, with about 200 cases per week in recent weeks.”
However, it cautioned that the figures could be underestimated due to reporting delays and reduced surveillance.
Mpox cases since 2025
The latest figures form part of the multi-country mpox outbreak, which has affected 35 African countries since January 2025.
According to the WHO report, the countries reported 52,424 confirmed mpox cases and 238 deaths between 1 January 2025 and 16 August 2026.
Globally, 65,784 confirmed cases and 264 deaths were reported in 105 countries between 1 January 2025 and 31 July 2026.
The WHO said 32 countries reported 1,370 confirmed cases and seven deaths in July alone, with the African Region accounting for 74.8 per cent of the cases.
New spread
WHO also reported new developments in the virus’s spread. Chile and Hungary reported mpox caused by clade Ib for the first time. In contrast, community transmission of the clade was reported in Czechia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Spain had the highest cumulative number of clade Ib cases in the group, with 241, followed by France with 173, Portugal with 162, and Germany with 140.
Madagascar remains a major concern, with WHO describing its outbreak as the largest mpox outbreak globally and in the African Region since December 2025.
As of 16 August, Madagascar had recorded 3,436 confirmed cases and 22 deaths.
Emergency status
The latest development comes months after the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared an end to mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) in January 2026.
READ ALSO: Ebola outbreak spreads to 61 health zones in DRC — WHO
Africa CDC said at the time that the emergency declaration was being lifted as the continent moved from an emergency response towards longer-term control and elimination of the disease.
The agency reported that suspected mpox cases had fallen by 40 per cent and confirmed cases by 60 per cent between early and late 2025, while the suspected case fatality ratio fell from 2.6 per cent to 0.6 per cent.
However, it stressed that mpox remained endemic in some settings and that vaccination would remain central to the response.
The WHO now considers the ongoing multi-country outbreak a graded health emergency and has extended its standing recommendations on mpox until August 2027.
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