National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has condemned the recent deadly attacks in Plateau State, describing them as unacceptable and calling for collective action to end the cycle of violence.
Gunmen had last week stormed several villages in the Bokkos Local Government Area of the state, killing no fewer than 50 people.
Speaking during a visit to the headquarters of Operation Safe Haven on Sunday, the security outfit in charge of Plateau, Ribadu said, “We are going through tough times, difficult times, but it’s not going to be forever. The issue of security is for all of us. We all have to come together. Everyone has a role to play.”
He continued, “Communities—those who have been living together for years and decades—it’s time for us to say enough is enough. We have lost many people. But it’s not exactly like the figures you see out there. But even one soul lost is a lot.”
The NSA commended security forces for their efforts and urged the public to support them. “Our security forces are doing well. But our communities can do even better,” he added.
Ribadu also appealed to the media to ensure accurate reporting, stating, “Telling the truth helps us get through this together. It helps us feel. It helps us keep our contracts and live in peace and security.”
He noted that while the crisis is not new, lasting solutions can only come from understanding its history. “When people who live together as one community are unable to resolve issues peacefully, miscreants and criminals take advantage,” he said.
Ribadu assured that security conditions have improved, saying, “Things have changed and improved and will get even better as we move forward across the country and on the Plateau as well. This incident we witnessed over the last 10 days—hopefully, we will not see it again.”
According to him, deaths from violence in 2023 have dropped by over 90 per cent in the past 10 months.
Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor Caleb Muftwang has vowed to ensure the perpetrators of the Bokkos killings are brought to justice.
“I want to assure you that the lives lost in Bokkos will not be in vain,” Muftwang said. “Some advised that we cancel this meeting due to the tragic circumstances, but after wide consultations with our leaders both at home and in the Diaspora, we decided to forge ahead. We cannot let those behind these heinous acts think they have broken our spirit.”
He lamented the targeted nature of the attacks: “Since the December 2023 attacks, we had begun reclaiming our identity as the Home of Peace and Tourism. For over a year, we recorded no major incidents. But these attacks are clearly orchestrated, deliberate attempts to impoverish and intimidate our people at the start of every farming season.”
Muftwang confirmed that some suspects have been apprehended, adding, “The era of arrest without prosecution is over.”
He also called on the 54 ethnic nationalities of Plateau State residents in Abuja to remain united and uphold the values of peace, unity, hard work, tolerance, excellence, and hospitality.
Also reacting, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) described the killings as tragic and unacceptable. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad Baba, the ACF urged the Federal Government to act decisively.
“To the Federal Government, constitutionally responsible for the protection of lives and properties of citizens, ACF wishes to draw attention, for the umpteenth time, to the deterioration in the state of security in Arewa communities and elsewhere in Nigeria,” the Forum stated.
It called on the government to “declare a state of security emergency on vulnerable and banditry-prone communities and to initiate effective early-warning and early-response strategies that incorporate the participation of community members.”
The Northern chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria also condemned the violence. Its Chairman, Reverend Joseph John Hayab, said in a statement from Kaduna on Sunday, “We condemn in totality this strange and evil culture of taking human lives. Hiding under religion, ethnicity or any guise to unleash terror on communities is unacceptable.”
He added, “Our societal value for human life has dangerously eroded and this must not be allowed to continue.”
The Christian body urged religious, traditional, and community leaders to preach peace and unity.
In response to the humanitarian impact of the attacks, the National Emergency Management Agency, in collaboration with the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has begun a rapid assessment of the affected communities.
Assessment teams are currently on the ground to evaluate the extent of the damage and identify urgent needs. Relief materials approved by the Federal Government are also being prepared for distribution, following the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
NEMA also confirmed that a high-level team from its headquarters, led by the Director-General, is heading to the state to reinforce efforts by its Zonal Office in Jos and ensure effective coordination of relief interventions.
The Punch
