By Ado Oyeyemi
The Northern Senators Forum has called for urgent action to halt the recurring killings and attacks on communities in Plateau State.
The senators also commiserated with families of victims of the latest attack in the state, where at least 25 people, predominantly women and children, were reportedly killed in their homes on August 18.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by the forum’s Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, the lawmakers described the latest incident as unacceptable, saying the recurring bloodshed in Plateau had gone on for too long.
The forum said the state had experienced persistent attacks over the past three years, particularly in Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and other local government areas.
According to the senators, the violence had claimed hundreds of lives, left thousands injured and displaced tens of thousands of residents, while numerous homes and farmlands had also been destroyed.
They said the frequency and scale of the attacks required immediate and decisive action from governments and security agencies.
The forum commended the Nigerian Army and the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, for responding to the latest crisis through the deployment of additional troops and equipment to affected communities.
It also welcomed the relocation of the OPEP tactical headquarters from Jos to Mangu Local Government Area, describing the move as capable of improving the military’s response to emerging threats.
The senators said the decision by the OPEP commander, Major General Williams Maxwell Dangana, would provide more direct oversight of troubled areas and enable security personnel to respond more rapidly to attacks.
While acknowledging President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Plateau and interventions by the Federal Government, the lawmakers urged the state government to intensify its own efforts within its constitutional and financial capacity.
They called for sustained dialogue involving farmers, herders and traditional institutions to address longstanding disputes over land use, grazing routes and compensation for destroyed property.
The forum also urged the government to establish a transparent compensation and resettlement programme for victims and internally displaced persons, stressing that justice should replace retaliation as the preferred response to the crisis.
It further advocated the deployment of modern surveillance technology, including drones, closed circuit television cameras and early warning systems, across identified flashpoints such as Ampang, Kombul, Mangu and the Gindiri axis.
The senators said such measures would enable security agencies to detect threats early and prevent attacks rather than merely respond after lives and property had been lost.
“The security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government under Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution. That duty must now be matched with action, not only condolences,” the forum stated.
The Northern Senators Forum urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies in efforts to identify and arrest those responsible for the killings.
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It also called on governments at all levels to move away from a reactive approach to insecurity and adopt stronger preventive measures to protect vulnerable communities.
