Africa-Press – Nigeria. A fact-finding committee set up by Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang to investigate the persistent killings in the state has revealed that most of the attackers often come from neighbouring states.
Presenting the report on Thursday in Jos, the Chairman of the committee, Major General Rogers Ibe Nicholas (rtd), said the team engaged with indigenes, interest groups, and visited communities ravaged by violent attacks to gather first-hand information.
According to him, the findings show that attackers frequently cross into Plateau from Nasarawa, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Taraba states to launch quick strikes before retreating.
He noted that in Nasarawa, bandits have established cells in villages bordering Quan’pan, forcing many communities in the area to flee. Similar cells with suspected extremist links were also identified in Wase and Kanam local government areas.
“The motives driving these attacks are multiple,” Nicholas explained. “They range from the struggle for land and resources, to territorial expansion, ethno-religious dominance, political destabilisation, and outright criminal profiteering through kidnap-for-ransom and cattle rustling.”
He listed several routes exploited by the attackers, including Wamba, Lafia and Awe in Nasarawa; Lere, Kaura and Sanga in Kaduna; Toro, Tafawa Balewa, Bogoro and Alkaleri in Bauchi; and Ibi and Karim Lamido in Taraba. “These entry points are largely unmonitored and allow attackers to move in and out with ease.” He revealed.
The committee’s report also highlighted that 420 communities have attacked recently with nearly 12,000 lives lost. Nicholas stressed that the killings were “coordinated, deliberate, and devastating,” urging urgent action to prevent further bloodshed.
Governor Mutfwang, while receiving the report at Government House Jos, commended the committee’s work and promised to act on its recommendations.
He also said he would present the report to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and security experts to give them a clearer perspective on the decades-long violence in the state.
“We cannot continue to treat these atrocities as business as usual,” Mutfwang said. “This report will serve as a guide for both the state and federal governments in finding a lasting solution to insecurity in Plateau.”
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