In a renewed drive to end two decades of communal unrest, the Plateau State High-Powered Fact-Finding Committee visited Langtang South and Mikang Local Government Areas on Thursday, July 24, 2025, gathering firsthand accounts of challenges and progress in the southern zone of the state.
The committee, set up by Governor Caleb Mutfwang, is tasked with investigating the underlying causes of recurring violence in Plateau communities between 2001 and 2025 and recommending viable, long-term solutions.
Local Voices Take Center Stage in Langtang South
During the visit to Langtang South, community leaders, government officials, and security personnel welcomed the delegation with hope and cautious optimism.
Chairman of the committee, Maj. Gen. Nicholas Rogas (rtd), explained the team’s mission: “We are not here to blame anyone. We want to hear directly from the people—your experiences, your efforts to maintain peace, and the issues still threatening that peace.”
Responding on behalf of the council, Deputy Chairman Julcit Musa Nanpon thanked the governor for remembering the area, noting that while Langtang South had largely escaped recent mass killings, the people were still grappling with rising petty crimes and youth unemployment.
“Our youths are idle and frustrated. Motorcycles are snatched at night, and armed robbers extort traders returning from markets. Last week, a man lost over ₦2 million on his way home. These are serious concerns,” Nanpon said.
Traditional ruler, Chief Dauda Caleb, the Acting Ponshi Byam, expressed appreciation for the government’s outreach, adding, “Peace is gradually returning, but we now face water scarcity and other basic needs. We pray the government supports us.”
In a closed-door session with the committee, stakeholders raised concerns about past attacks, lingering trauma, lack of compensation, and inadequate infrastructure, all of which they said contribute to ongoing instability.
Mikang Community Demands Action on Land, Boundary Disputes
In Mikang, the fact-finding committee was received at the council secretariat by Deputy Chairman Nungkat Eukuk Koplang and other officials representing Executive Chairman Dr. Soepding Alkali Bernard.
Council Secretary Nanhkin Dafom presented a well-documented list of grievances, including unresolved boundary disputes, communal tensions, and the fallout of a 2024 land-related conflict between the Tonglong and Fungalang communities.
“Most of our issues are internal, but they require urgent attention. The absence of clear boundary demarcations is fueling tension. Even though some disputes have been settled, pockets of resentment still remain,” Dafom said.
At the palace of His Royal Highness, Bar. Donald D. Puntel II, President of the Mikang Traditional Council, community elders echoed similar sentiments. The royal father lamented government neglect of previous inquiry reports.
“Committees come, reports are written, but no action follows. If crimes are not punished, they will continue. Our youths are watching,” he warned.
He emphasized that the crises in Mikang were “petty but persistent,” rooted in boundary confusion, local rivalries, and inadequate government follow-through. He called on the state to apply the rule of law and implement findings, warning that unaddressed grievances only fester.
Wrapping up the visit, Maj. Gen. Rogas told reporters that the situation in both LGAs showed that peace was possible with proper structures in place.
“Langtang South and Mikang have shown us that local leadership and community effort can make a difference. We’ll compile all findings and make honest recommendations to help the state move forward,” he said.
The committee continues its tour across the state, engaging stakeholders and gathering perspectives aimed at ending the cycle of violence and restoring Plateau’s reputation as a peaceful and hospitable state.
