Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has assured residents in the Mangu Local Government Area, assuring that his administration will do everything within its powers to ensure they remain on their ancestral land.
He gave the assurance when he visited Bin Mper community in Kombun District of Mangu following the deadly attack on the community, which claimed several lives and left others injured.
The governor, who visited the community on Thursday, described the attack as barbaric, senseless and unacceptable, saying the loss of innocent lives was not only an attack on the affected community but also a direct affront to him and the Plateau State Government.
Addressing the people, particularly women of the community, Mutfwang said his administration would strengthen existing security measures and adopt additional strategies to prevent further attacks on vulnerable communities.
“This is not an attack on the community alone; it is an attack on me. I pray that God will grant you peace and comfort. The police have said that some persons have been arrested, and we will follow the matter to its logical conclusion,” he said.
The governor said the attack occurred at a time when the state government had reviewed its security architecture in collaboration with security agencies, including the new General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Nigerian Army, with renewed emphasis on protecting lives and property.
He called for more proactive, intelligence-driven and coordinated security measures, stressing that attacks on vulnerable communities must be prevented before they occur.
Mutfwang also condoled with families who lost loved ones and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured, while commending Plateau youths for their courage and resilience in supporting efforts to protect their communities.
He urged residents to remain peaceful, vigilant and law-abiding, stressing that the fight against insecurity required unity and stronger collaboration among communities, traditional institutions, government and security agencies.
The governor expressed confidence that sustained security operations and collective resolve would enable Plateau to overcome banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities threatening the peace of the state.
Earlier, Mutfwang received a security briefing from the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Nigerian Army, before proceeding to the community.
He also paid a sympathy visit to the Mishkagham Mwaghavul, Da. John Putmang Hirse, where he condoled with the traditional ruler, bereaved families and the entire Mwaghavul nation over the attack.
The governor assured the traditional ruler that he would not let the people down, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to defeating banditry and other forms of criminality across the state.
He was accompanied by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Mrs. Abiodun Esiet, top government officials and heads of security agencies in the state.
Responding, Hirse thanked Mutfwang for identifying with the people in their moment of grief, describing the attack as senseless and deliberate.
“This is something we least expected. People were asleep when they were massacred. Mangu is one of the most peaceful local government areas. We live peacefully with our neighbours and accommodate visitors, yet we were attacked,” he said.
The traditional ruler assured that the Mwaghavul people would remain peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that no amount of intimidation would force them to abandon their ancestral land.
Also speaking, President of the Mwaghavul Development Association Women’s Wing, Mrs. Grace Gora, sympathised with the bereaved families and appealed to residents, particularly women, to remain calm and support government and security agencies in their efforts to restore peace.
Several people were on Tuesday killed, with others still missing, in an attack on Amper, in the BWI district of Mangu.
The attack was the third attack recorded in Mangu in the past week and heightened concerns among residents, who are calling on the government to strengthen security and protect communities from further attacks.
Following the attack, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Maxwell Dangana, moved his tactical office to the LGA for two weeks, as the military launches ‘Operation Hard Nut’ to flush out terrorists and restore normalcy following Tuesday’s deadly attack on Bi Mper community.
On Thursday, the Plateau State Police Command said it arrested a suspect in connection with the killing in the attack.
