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Jos South Chairman Calls for State Policing as Fact-Finding Committee Assesses Conflict Zones
The Chairman of Jos South Local Government Area, Hon. Silas Patrick Dung, has made a passionate appeal for the establishment of state policing as a solution to the insecurity plaguing Plateau State. He made the call on Monday, June 30, 2025, while receiving members of the Plateau State Fact-Finding Committee during their assessment visit to the LGA.
The committee, set up by Governor Caleb Mutfwang to investigate the root causes of persistent attacks in Plateau State and recommend lasting solutions, visited Jos South as part of its statewide tour of affected communities.
Speaking during a closed-door meeting with the committee at the LGA secretariat, which included heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, and leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Hon. Dung stressed that state policing would empower local authorities to respond swiftly to threats.
“As a local government chairman, I can’t give direct orders to the DPO to act during emergencies because he takes instructions from above, and sometimes the security personals are hours away from the scene of attack,” he said. “We need locally sourced, trained, and equipped personnel who know the terrain and can be first responders.”
While appreciating the neutrality of the committee members—most of whom are non-indigenes—Hon. Dung emphasized that the Jos South situation is unique. He cautioned against labeling the crisis simply as “farmer-herder clashes,” describing some of the attacks as acts of terrorism.
“Jos South has been affected by land occupation, targeted killings, and kidnappings. Gero community, for instance, is often mentioned in crises due to its location and resource-rich land. It shares boundaries with four LGAs—Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bassa, and Jos North—making it a hotspot and transit route for attackers,” he said.
He added that mining activity in Gero and surrounding areas has also contributed to tensions, as both locals and outsiders compete for access to rich deposits.
Committee Visits Conflict-Prone Areas
The committee chairman, Major General Nicholas Rogas (Rtd), said the visit was aimed at gathering firsthand insights to enrich their report and ensure recommendations reflect the realities on the ground.
“We’ve gone around various LGAs, heard testimonies, and seen affected sites. Today, we are in Jos South to see things for ourselves—places like Gero, Rafin Bona, and the 2010 Dogo Nahawa massacre site,” Rogas said.
The delegation visited Gero community, identified by local authorities as a strategic flashpoint due to its proximity to crisis zones and history of attacks. According to Hon. Dung, Gero often becomes a safe haven for displaced persons during crises in neighboring LGAs, further heightening tension and pressure on the area.
During a dialogue with the committee, Hon. Dung reiterated the call for the return of Ardos (Fulani community leaders) to reside among their people, as earlier agreed in peace talks, stressing that their physical presence is crucial to fostering accountability and coexistence.
“We believe peace is possible if the right measures are in place—state policing, active participation of traditional leaders, and firm political will,” he added.
Tribute to Victims of the 2010 Dogo Nahawa Massacre
The committee also paid a solemn visit to the mass grave of the 2010 Dogo Nahawa massacre, where over 500 lives were lost in a midnight attack. The counselor of Shen Ward, Hon. Damien Yam Dung, narrated how the attackers struck around 2:00 a.m., leaving a trail of destruction and sorrow.
“People were sleeping when gunshots started. Many were killed as they tried to flee. The attackers used long knives and guns. By the time security forces arrived, it was too late,” he recalled.
Moved by the sight, Major General Rogas remarked, “This massacre should never have happened. There is enough land for everyone. We must build the political will to ensure peace and never allow this again.”
“I Chose to Stay”: Survivor of 2010 Massacre Tells Committee
The delegation also met with Malam Inusa, an old Fulani man who remained in Dogo Nahawa before and after the massacre. He shared his story of resilience and long-standing ties with the community, where he has lived for over 40 years.
“This is my home. I refused to leave then, and I’m still here. I pray God gives us peace,” Malam Inusa said.
Committee Encourages Community Vigilance
Major General Rogas commended the Jos South leadership for its proactive stance and encouraged the formation of local peace monitoring teams to detect and de-escalate early warning signs of violence.
“We encourage you to set up district-level committees to serve as first responders. Call regular security meetings and engage the Fulani leaders who have migrated. Sustaining peace requires collective effort,” he said.
The visit ended with a symbolic stop at the Ten Commandments Prayer Ground, where the committee interceded for peace across Plateau State.
Nigeria has taken a significant step to strengthen the security of its internet infrastructure as the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) formally signs and unveils Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) for the country’s .ng domain, introducing a new layer of protection against cyber threats targeting the Domain Name System (DNS).
The development was announced today at a media advocacy and capacity-building workshop hosted by NiRA in Lagos, themed “The Role of Media in Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Identity,” where stakeholders highlighted the importance of securing the country’s digital namespace amid rising cybersecurity risks.
According to NiRA, the DNSSEC signing marks the culmination of over a decade of work by the domain name manager, which began preparatory efforts in 2011 through stakeholder engagement, technical training and ecosystem readiness initiatives. With the signing of the .ng zone, Nigeria’s country code top-level domain is now secured using cryptographic validation mechanisms designed to protect users from malicious redirection and data manipulation.
DNSSEC: Strengthening Nigeria’s internet backbone
According to NiRA, the DNSSEC signing marks the culmination of over a decade of work by the domain name manager, which began preparatory efforts in 2011 through stakeholder engagement, technical training and ecosystem readiness initiatives. With the signing of the .ng zone, Nigeria’s country code top-level domain is now secured using cryptographic validation mechanisms designed to protect users from malicious redirection and data manipulation.
DNSSEC addresses longstanding vulnerabilities in the Domain Name System (DNS), the core internet protocol responsible for translating human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses. Without these security extensions, DNS queries can be intercepted or altered, exposing users to risks such as phishing attacks and redirection to fraudulent websites.
By introducing cryptographic keys that digitally sign DNS records, DNSSEC ensures that users are connected to authentic destinations. The system allows DNS servers not only to resolve domain names but also to verify that the data originates from a trusted source and has not been tampered with during transmission.
According to him, the adoption of DNSSEC positions Nigeria among countries implementing advanced internet security standards, including Sweden, United States, China and United Kingdom.
NiRA positions .ng domain for global trust standards
Speaking at the unveiling, Adesola Akinsanya, President of NiRA, describes the deployment as a milestone in Nigeria’s digital evolution, noting that the achievement reflects years of collaboration across the internet ecosystem.
According to him, the adoption of DNSSEC positions Nigeria among countries implementing advanced internet security standards, including Sweden, United States, China and United Kingdom.
“With the signing of DNSSEC, Nigeria has taken a bold step forward. We are proud to join other forward-looking countries across Africa that have embraced this critical security standard,” he says.
The NiRA President sees the DNSSEC as more than a technical upgrade, describing it as a trust framework that reinforces confidence in Nigeria’s digital identity.
“DNSSEC is not just a technical upgrade; it is a trust framework that shows users that when they access a .ng domain, they are connecting to authentic and secure digital destinations,” he adds.
He also acknowledges contributions from technical partners, policymakers and the broader internet community, noting that the rollout reflects a coordinated effort to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
How DNSSEC works to secure internet traffic
Providing further technical insight, Ahmad Mukoshy, a member of NiRA’s Executive Board, explains the operational framework of DNS and how DNSSEC enhances its security.
He notes that when a user enters a web address, the request is processed through a resolver, which queries the root zone before directing the request to the appropriate authority responsible for the domain. Authoritative name servers then provide the necessary records that guide users to the correct destination.
He explains that the traditional DNS model relies heavily on trust, making it susceptible to manipulation by threat actors. DNSSEC introduces a verification layer by digitally signing DNS records, allowing systems to validate the authenticity of responses.
“DNSSEC serves as a critical safeguard against manipulation. All records are secured using cryptographic keys, ensuring that users receive authentic responses from legitimate sources,” he says.
The deployment of DNSSEC is expected to enhance trust in Nigeria’s internet ecosystem, particularly for businesses, government platforms and digital services that rely on secure domain name resolution.
As cyber threats become more sophisticated, securing foundational internet infrastructure such as DNS is increasingly seen as essential to protecting users, safeguarding data and maintaining confidence in online services.
For NiRA, the initiative aligns with its broader objective of promoting a secure, trusted and globally competitive .ng domain, while supporting Nigeria’s ambitions to strengthen its digital economy.
The DNSSEC rollout also underscores the growing role of infrastructure-level security in national digital strategies, as countries move to reinforce resilience against cyber risks that can undermine digital transformation efforts.
With the signing of DNSSEC, Nigeria is advancing efforts to build a more secure and reliable internet environment, positioning its domain ecosystem to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
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