Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property in Plateau State. He said peace and security, since his inauguration in May 2023, remain not only constitutional obligations but also the foundation upon which social and economic recovery must be built.
By prioritising security, strengthening collaboration with national institutions, empowering local communities, and fostering dialogue across divides, Mutfwang said his administration has laid a solid foundation for a secure, united, and prosperous Plateau.
In a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, the governor said he recognises that without security, there can be no meaningful industrialisation, innovation, or job creation capable of delivering prosperity for the people.
He vowed that security under his leadership would not be reduced to rhetoric, pledging to remain “firm, fair, and just to all, regardless of political, ethnic, or religious inclination.”
“Barely weeks after my declaration as Governor-Elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in April 2023, the state was thrown into turmoil. My hometown, Mangu, and Riyom Local Council, home of Deputy Governor Ngo Josephine Piyo, came under devastating attacks aimed at making the state ungovernable.
“Rather than engage in blame games, I took decisive action. I visited Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Riyom, Barkin-Ladi, Mangu, and Bokkos.
Some of whom had lived in camps for nearly two decades. My presence and assurances brought renewed hope to traumatised families who, for the first time, felt that the government genuinely cared about their plight,” he said.
Mutfwang said his administration has reframed the narrative around Plateau’s insecurity. Instead of the recurring description of “herder-farmer clashes,” he described the killings as genocide against defenceless rural communities. Security experts and public commentators have since supported this position, citing the systematic and coordinated nature of the attacks that caused widespread deaths, destruction, and displacement.
Understanding the magnitude of the crisis, Mutfwang embarked on a strategic tour of security institutions in Abuja, where he met with the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Inspector-General of Police, and heads of the DSS, Immigration, Customs, Civil Defence, Correctional Service, NEMA, and ultimately, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, these engagements led to the establishment of new Police Mobile Force squadrons in Gashish (Barkin-Ladi) and Bassa Councils, as well as MOPOL 81 in Kwall, now regarded as one of the most equipped mobile squadrons in Nigeria. These units are currently active in Bassa, Riyom, and Jos South, protecting communities and deterring crime.
The governor added that his administration revived Operation Rainbow, a state-owned security outfit established under former Governor Jonah Jang but left dormant for years.
Initially, 600 trusted youths and community leaders were recruited, trained, and equipped from vulnerable communities in Mangu, Barkin-Ladi, Riyom, Bokkos, and Jos South. Their intelligence-gathering efforts have already foiled several planned attacks. Plans are underway to recruit an additional 1,450 youths to strengthen grassroots security under Operation Rainbow across the 17 local councils.
To improve mobility and response time, the administration repaired abandoned operational vehicles, procured new Hilux vans, and provided motorcycles, raincoats, and boots to security personnel. In collaboration with local councils, 17 brand-new Hilux vehicles were also acquired for Operation Rainbow.
Mutfwang also launched a State Security and Information Centre with a toll-free line to enable citizens to report threats or suspicious activities for prompt action. In addition, the Plateau Special Activities Centre was established, equipped with modern surveillance technology to monitor movements across all 17 local councils.
