As part of its ongoing engagement across Plateau State, the High-Powered Fact-Finding Committee on Friday, July 25, 2025, visited Wase Local Government Area in the Southern Senatorial Zone to gather firsthand accounts of the challenges fueling insecurity in the region.
The committee, received at the council secretariat by Executive Chairman Hon. Hamisu Mohammed Anani, his deputy, councillors, and senior council officials, was led by its chairman, Major General Nicholas Rogers (Rtd). In his remarks, Rogers noted the significance of visiting Wase on a Friday, aligning with the Muslim congregational prayers, and acknowledged the chairman’s strides in local media innovation.
“This is my fifth visit to Wase. I am not a stranger here,” he said. “We know that the state has faced crises since 2001, and we are here to interact with the people directly, ask questions, and hear suggestions on the way forward. After this engagement, we will also meet with traditional leaders and visit the radio house to spread the message of peace.”
The Wase council chairman, Hon. Hamisu Anani, welcomed the committee and commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for initiating the fact-finding process. He outlined the security challenges plaguing the LGA, noting that while relative peace had returned to some areas, Bashar District remained a hotspot for banditry due to its vast forests and porous borders with Taraba State.
According to him, Wase is dealing with:
- Land disputes and inter-clan clashes in Kadarko and Tarok areas.
- Boundary conflicts in Lamba District.
- Petty crimes and motorcycle thefts linked to youth restiveness.
- Banditry and cross-border criminal activity in Bashar District, which he described as the most pressing challenge.
“We are trying our best with local efforts and collaboration with neighboring councils like Alkaleri, but we need federal security support,” he said. “We appeal for penetration in the forest regions, as those hiding there are known criminals. We’ve also registered a security outfit—Wase Rock Security Company—to strengthen local response.”
He further highlighted the difficulties of coordinating joint operations between military and DSS operatives stationed in the area, despite the local government providing fuel and feeding support to over 140 DSS personnel.
The committee also held a closed-door session at the Palace of the Acting Recna of Bashar, where traditional council members reiterated their concerns about kidnapping, cattle rustling, and growing insecurity.
“We have done our part at the community level,” the Acting Recna said. “We hope the committee’s report will prompt decisive action from the government to address kidnapping and restore peace.”
Speaking to the press after the palace visit, Maj. Gen. Rogers reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to capturing all perspectives.
“We are listening to both local government officials and traditional rulers,” he said. “From what we’ve gathered, Wase is battling multiple forms of insecurity: banditry, kidnapping, land disputes, and cattle rustling. These will be captured in our report to the governor along with recommendations.”
The committee also visited Wase Rock Broadcasting Network, where it held a live radio session to engage directly with the public and further amplify messages of peace and reconciliation.
“Our mission is to interact with all segments of society—herders, farmers, traditional leaders, and government officials—to understand the root causes of the crisis and propose solutions that will bring lasting peace to Plateau,” Rogers emphasized during the radio broadcast.
The committee is expected to compile its findings and submit a comprehensive report to Governor Caleb Mutfwang in the coming weeks.
