TEXT OF A STATE BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE, BARRISTER CALEB MANASSEH MUTFWANG, ON THE CURRENT SECURITY SITUATION OF THE STATE DELIVERED ON MONDAY, 14TH APRIL, 2025
My dear people of Plateau State,
It is with a deeply burdened heart, but with a firm resolve, that I address you at this critical moment in our collective history.
In the early hours of Sunday, 13th April 2025, the peace of Kwall District in Bassa Local Government Area was shattered by yet another round of coordinated and brutal attacks.
Armed assailants, suspected to be Fulani militia, descended on the peaceful communities of Zike and Kimakpa, unleashing unspeakable violence that claimed the lives of no fewer than 45 persons, including women, children, and the elderly, without any form of provocation.
Homes were razed, properties destroyed, scores of our people were inflicted with injuries, and families torn apart in the dead of night. This tragedy came at a time when the government and security agencies are already grappling with the aftermath of similar carnage in Bokkos Local Government Area, where, in recent days, 52 lives were lost and hundreds of homes reduced to ashes.
Let me make it abundantly clear: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! The lives of Plateau people matter. We will no longer allow our communities to be turned into killing fields. These are not isolated incidents. They are coordinated acts of terror aimed at instilling fear, displacing our people, and ultimately undermining our right to exist peacefully on our ancestral lands.
Let it be clearly stated: these attacks are not random incidents. They are premeditated, coordinated, and driven by a clear and sinister agenda. While the state has grappled with various forms of criminality, such as kidnappings and cattle rustling, the violence ravaging many of our communities cannot be truthfully described as mere farmer-herder clashes.
That narrative is not only misleading and dangerous, but it also disrespects the memory of those brutally murdered in cold blood. What we are witnessing is a calculated campaign of ethnic cleansing, an act that bears all the hallmarks of genocide. To suggest otherwise is to deny a grim and painful reality.
We recall with pain the horror of the Dyanburuk (Dogo Na Hawa) massacre of 2010, the bloodshed in Riyom, Barkin-Ladi, as well as the Mangu and Bokkos Christmas Eve massacre that perished several lives. These tragic memories remain fresh, and they underscore the magnitude of what we now face. The pattern of the attacks since then has been the same, aimed at wiping communities and taking their lands forcefully.
But let me reassure you: my government is alive to its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, and we are rising to the occasion more determined than ever.
Last weekend, I visited the attacked communities of Hurti, Mbar, Daffo, and Manguna to assess the situation on the ground. This was after a visit to Ruwi community where mourners were unleashed terror at a wake. What I witnessed was not only heartrending but pitiable, especially the conditions of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have been cramped into church halls, forced to abandon the once-comfortable homes they knew. It was a sight that weighed heavily on my heart.
However, despite the grim reality, I was encouraged by the resilience of our people and the tireless efforts of our emergency response teams. I sincerely thank the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for working around the clock to bring succour to the victims. They have shown exceptional commitment in alleviating the hardships and suffering of our people.
To the victims of the Kwall attacks, I want you to know: help is on the way. This afternoon, I held a State Security Council Meeting with all Heads of Security Agencies and consulted widely within and outside the state on how to mitigate this menace once and for all.
I have already directed hospitals within and outside the locality to take in and treat the victims who sustained injuries. Our priority is to ensure that they receive the best medical care and support, as we also continue to provide relief materials and shelter for the displaced.
We have activated all security and humanitarian response mechanisms to address the situation in Kwall and Bokkos. I have personally reached out to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has expressed deep concern and assured us of the Federal Government’s full support.
We are also in constant touch with the Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector General of Police, the National Security Adviser, and other critical stakeholders in the security industry. Troops and other security personnel have been deployed and reinforced in vulnerable communities.
We commend the gallant efforts of our security agencies who continue to work under difficult circumstances. However, more must be done and done urgently. Intelligence gathering must be strengthened. Response time must improve. And those behind these atrocities must be apprehended and prosecuted swiftly and decisively. Plateau blood must no longer be spilled with impunity.
To the bereaved families of Zike and Kimakpa, and to all affected in Bokkos and beyond, I extend my deepest condolences. I grieve with you. Your pain is our pain. The Plateau State Government has directed all health facilities to provide immediate and comprehensive treatment to the injured at no cost.
Relief materials, food supplies, and temporary shelters are being provided through our emergency agencies and partners. We are doing everything possible to bring comfort, even in this time of heartbreak.
Fellow citizens, these are trying times, but we must not lose hope. Plateau has been through storms before. We have faced adversity. But each time, we have risen stronger. I am confident that with God on our side, this moment too shall pass. Our land will heal. Our people will thrive again.
I call on all community leaders, traditional rulers, religious figures, and our youths to remain calm and vigilant. Cooperate with security agents. Share credible information. And above all, do not take the law into your hands. We are a people of peace, governed by the rule of law. Let us not allow the enemies of our land to push us into the abyss of chaos.
My fellow citizens, we are proudly known for our hospitality, accommodation of visitors, and extending hands of friendship across the Niger, fostering mutual understanding and promoting enduring peace. These are cherished values that must not elude us.
To my distinguished statesmen across communities and faiths, the time has come, and the time is now, to rally round each other. This is a battle for the soul of Plateau and not any ethnic group. Let us speak with a voice of conscience and reasoning. We love everyone living on the Plateau, but we must collectively rise against all forms of criminality and expose the sponsors.
In conclusion, let me once again thank our partners, national and international, who have stood with us and continue to support our humanitarian response. Your solidarity is a beacon of hope in this dark hour.
To the killers and their sponsors, know this: your evil shall not go unpunished. You may run, but you will not hide. Plateau will rise. Plateau will prevail.
May God bless and protect the people of Plateau State.
Thank you and God bless.