Barr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, the governor of Plateau State, has pledged to stop the ongoing attacks and murders in the state’s villages by non-state actors he referred to as “unknown gunmen.”
When he visited the Jebbu Binde village of Ta-Hoss District in the Riyom Local Government Area on Wednesday, where gunmen suspected of being Fulani militia attacked on Monday and killed over thirty people, Mutfwang made the pledge. He criticized security agencies for their shortcomings, which allowed the attackers to easily infiltrate the community, and he gave them a marching order to arrest the perpetrators and change their future tactics.
The governor, who strongly condemned the attacks and killing of innocent people, including women and children, expressed concerns that the killings took place despite intelligence warnings and the presence of security operatives stationed some kilometres from the community.
“Sadly, we got intelligence for this attack, yet the attack still happened. I’m calling on the security agencies to redouble their efforts; we need to reappraise our strategy and tactics,” Mutfwang said.
“How can people come and attack people and kill them in their homes, and we say they are not known?
“The days of unidentified gunmen are over; the culprits of the atrocity must be taken into custody. I want to reiterate that the purpose of our security agencies is to protect Nigerians’ lives and property, not to maintain peace.
He declared that the government will do everything in its power to assist survivors and other attack victims in the state, adding that “anyone that is threatening the lives of Nigerians is an enemy of the state and must be dealt with accordingly.”
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