The Plateau State Government has strongly condemned the Nigerian military’s failure to protect communities from relentless bandit attacks, calling for the immediate withdrawal of soldiers from flashpoints and their replacement with mobile police units.
This demand follows a brutal assault on villages in the Riyom Local Government Area that left 27 people dead, despite the presence of military checkpoints near the attack sites.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, during a visit to the affected communities, expressed outrage that security forces failed to intercept the attackers despite having advance intelligence and maintaining a checkpoint just 200 meters from where the massacre occurred. The governor emphasised that such security lapses were unacceptable and demanded urgent reforms to protect vulnerable civilians.
Prof. Chris Kwaja, Special Envoy on Peace and Security to the governor, echoed these concerns in a statement, noting that the continued presence of military personnel has not curbed violence.
He highlighted the recent attack in Jebbu Binde village, where gunmen operated for hours without military intervention, despite distress calls from residents. Kwaja described the assault as “avoidable,” given prior warnings, and called for an independent investigation into the military’s inaction.
The state government now insists that mobile police units, better trained in asymmetric warfare, should take over security operations in high-risk areas.
Kwaja argued that this shift would improve responsiveness and accountability, as the current military-led strategy has repeatedly failed to prevent bloodshed.
The latest violence has intensified calls for systemic changes in Plateau’s security architecture, with critics accusing federal forces of either incompetence or complicity. As tensions rise, the state’s push for mobile police-led security marks a significant challenge to Nigeria’s conventional reliance on military deployments in conflict zones.
Also Read:
Ndume commends Tinubu for northern appointments but urges inclusion of South-East in next selections
Prime suspect in AAUA students’ murder dies under mysterious circumstances in police custody
Bandits kill four, abduct multiple residents in fresh Zamfara village attack
cc: Daily Post Ng
