BREAKING: Plateau Governor Reveals Masterminds of Attacks, Shares Key Details

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has disclosed details surrounding the recent wave of coordinated attacks in the state, pointing to a long-standing pattern of violence that he believes amounts to genocide and systematic land grabbing.......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>

In an interview, Mutfwang provided insight into the nature and suspected motives of the attacks, which he linked to organized terror groups and illegal economic exploitation.

“These attacks weren’t reprisal in nature,” the governor said. “Given this pattern, I have no choice but to conclude that these are terrorist organizations deliberately targeting our people.”

He noted that the violence began in Ruwi, Bokkos Local Government Area, where residents were attending a wake. “Let me put this in proper context. This latest attack began in Ruwi, a community near the local government headquarters. The people were observing a wake—mourning the death of a loved one—when they were suddenly attacked. It wasn’t even in the dead of night; it happened late in the afternoon. There were no provocations or prior incidents to justify such violence. These attacks weren’t reprisal in nature. Given this pattern, I have no choice but to conclude that these are terrorist organizations deliberately targeting our people. The land in question is very fertile—rich in food produce and mineral deposits,” he said.

“We’ve observed a pattern over the years: at the beginning of the farming season, communities are attacked and destabilized so that they can’t plant. If they manage to farm, another wave of attacks occurs during harvest,” he added.

The governor disclosed that security forces have been reinforced in the affected areas, and the Federal Government has been responsive. “I want to acknowledge the concern shown by President Bola Tinubu—even while abroad, he has consistently reached out,” he said, adding that top security officials including the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police have been involved in the response.

He revealed that Agro-Rangers were deployed to protect farmers, contributing to a period of relative peace since December 2023. However, he admitted the latest attacks had “shattered that peace.”

Addressing the growing fears of ethnic cleansing, Mutfwang said, “This is more than a communal clash—this is genocide, orchestrated by terrorists. The critical question is: who is sponsoring this terrorism?”

The governor claimed that over 64 communities across Bokkos, Barkin-Ladi, and Riyom have already been taken over. “These lands have been renamed and are now occupied by strangers—while the original inhabitants remain displaced,” he said.

“Available intelligence suggests a lot of covert activities are ongoing in the occupied areas. Unfortunately, even security operatives often hesitate to enter these places due to potential compromise. There have been instances where security operations were leaked, giving perpetrators time to cover their tracks. We’ve lost not just communities, but also schools, healthcare centers, and other public infrastructure. Our culture of hospitality on the Plateau makes it difficult to quantify the scale of displacement—many internally displaced persons are hosted by relatives, making the crisis appear less severe than it truly is,” he added.

Mutfwang lamented what he described as failures in the criminal justice system. “Suspects are arrested and then mysteriously released due to high-level interference,” he alleged.

The governor reiterated his call for state police, stressing that localised security is critical in preventing further bloodshed. “That’s why the establishment of state police has become not just important, but urgent,” he said.

Pressed on the identities of the attackers, he said: “Survivors tell us that many of these attackers speak no Nigerian language—they’re likely foreign.”

He condemned ethnic profiling but acknowledged that “it’s a fact known to most Nigerians that the majority of herders—who are often at the center of these conflicts—speak a particular language.” Still, he maintained that the solution must be national and comprehensive.

“The troubling developments we’ve seen in Borno, Zamfara, and Sokoto are now creeping into the North Central region. This is no longer just a regional issue; it’s a national menace,” he warned.

The release of the interview follows the killing of at least 51 people in Zikke and Kakpa communities in Bassa Local Government Area on Monday.