Northern Senators Demand End to Plateau Killings

The Northern Senators Forum has called for an immediate end to the recurring killings and attacks on communities across Plateau State.

The forum made the call while commiserating with families of victims killed during an overnight attack on August 18, in which at least 25 people, mostly women and children, were reportedly killed in their homes.

In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, the senators described the latest incident as “one too many.”

The forum recalled several attacks recorded across Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and other parts of the state over the past three years, saying the violence had resulted in hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries and the displacement of tens of thousands of residents.

It also noted that homes and farms had been destroyed in the attacks, stressing that the scale and frequency of the violence required decisive intervention.

The Northern Senators Forum commended the Nigerian Army and Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, for responding to the latest security challenges.

It particularly welcomed the deployment of additional troops and equipment to affected communities and the relocation of the operation’s tactical headquarters from Jos to Mangu Local Government Area.

According to the forum, the relocation ordered by the OPEP Commander, Major General Williams Maxwell Dangana, would improve direct oversight and enable security personnel to respond more quickly to emerging threats.

The senators also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Plateau State and other interventions by the Federal Government.

However, they urged the Plateau State Government to intensify efforts within its constitutional and financial capacity to address the root causes of the conflict.

The forum called for sustained dialogue involving farmers, herders and traditional institutions, particularly on land use, grazing routes and compensation for destroyed property.

It further demanded a transparent compensation and resettlement programme for victims and internally displaced persons, stressing that justice rather than reprisal should guide the government’s response.

The senators also urged authorities to deploy drones, CCTV cameras and early-warning systems across identified flashpoints, including Ampang, Kombul, Mangu and the Gindiri axis.

They said such technology could help security agencies detect threats early and prevent attacks before they occur.

The forum reminded governments that protecting citizens remains a constitutional responsibility, citing Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution.

It urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies in identifying the perpetrators.

The senators also called on all levels of government to move from reacting to attacks after they occur to adopting proactive measures capable of preventing further bloodshed.