Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has announced stringent new security measures following the brutal killing of at least 51 people in fresh attacks on Bassa communities.
In a state-wide broadcast on Wednesday, Mutfwang condemned the attacks as “coordinated acts of terror” and vowed that the perpetrators “will not go unpunished.”
“These are coordinated acts of terror aimed at displacing our people and undermining their right to live peacefully on their ancestral lands,” the governor declared.
Women, children, and the elderly were among the victims of the violence that also saw homes razed and properties destroyed in Kwall District, Bassa Local Government Area.
The governor revealed that the fresh assault comes amid efforts to resolve similar violence in Bokkos LGA, where another 52 people were killed and hundreds of homes destroyed.
In response, Mutfwang announced a series of immediate security restrictions
“Night grazing of cattle is strictly prohibited. Transportation of cattle by vehicle is banned after 7:00 PM. The use of motorcycles is restricted from 7:00 PM to 6:00 AM across the state until further notice.”
He urged traditional leaders and youth groups to reactivate vigilante patrols
The governor also unveiled plans for a Fact-Finding Committee and the appointment of a Special Envoy on Peace to tackle the root causes of the violence.
“We are a people of peace, renowned for our hospitality and unity. Those who seek to tear us apart must not succeed,” Mutfwang declared.
“To the killers and their sponsors, know this: your evil shall not go unpunished. You may run, but you will not hide.”
He added that President Bola Tinubu has pledged full support to the state, and hospitals have been directed to provide free medical care to the injured. Relief materials and temporary shelters are also being arranged for displaced persons.
Mutfwang called on residents to remain calm and vigilant, avoid mob justice, and work with security agents to expose criminal elements.