The Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, has raised serious concerns over the scale and persistence of insecurity in the state, revealing that from 2001 to May 2025, about 420 communities have been attacked, nearly 12,000 lives lost, and countless livelihoods destroyed.
Governor Mutfwang made the disclosure during his address at the North-Central Zonal Public Hearing of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, currently underway at Crispan Hotel and Suite, Rayfield, Jos. Represented by the Deputy Governor, Her Excellency Ngo Josephine Piyo, the Governor emphasized that most of the deadly attacks were neither random nor isolated, but appeared deliberate, coordinated, and sustained by multiple actors driven by economic, territorial, religious, and political interests.
He noted that the patterns of infiltration, destruction, and occupation indicate a broader agenda of destabilization requiring decisive and multidimensional responses. “A common feature of the plight of rural communities is displacement and land grabbing, resulting in the loss of livelihoods, land, and cultural heritage,” he said.
Governor Mutfwang further lamented that criminal groups continue to exploit mining sites, using the proceeds to finance their operations through arms and drugs. While the Plateau State Government has tried to curb this through mining bans and regulatory enforcement, he acknowledged that challenges remain due to entrenched links between illegal mining and organized criminal networks.
Expressing support for the Senate’s initiative, the Governor welcomed the public hearing as a critical step toward lasting solutions to what he described as a national calamity. He urged stakeholders to avoid divisive comparisons over who has suffered more across religious or ethnic lines, emphasizing the need for unity to confront the menace.
Governor Mutfwang also extended gratitude to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and other Principal Officers of the National Assembly for hosting the public hearing in Jos, describing the location as symbolically significant, given Plateau’s long-standing experiences with insecurity.
Declaring the Summit open, the Governor called on all participants to make honest and constructive contributions to restore Plateau State and Nigeria to the path of peace, unity, and prosperity.
Groups expected to make presentations at the public hearing include PIDAN, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, CAN, JNI, Para-Mallam Foundation, among others. The One-Day Security Summit is chaired by Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, with Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro also in attendance.
