Fresh Threat on the Plateau: Helpless people; hapless Government.
By Bolaji O. Akinyemi.

Ogbon o logbon ki je ka pe Agba ni were; meaning, borrow wisdom may save the elder from being seen as mad. I will therefore lean on the wisdom of others in the Plateau State endless crisis.
First, is a summary of the article written by a stakeholder; Da Jonathan Sunday Akuns (Galadima Daffo), a rural community in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. The article, titled; The “Underlying Communal Issues” Of Gangster Violence in Nigeria; The Incidents in Bokkos and Bassa LGAs in Plateau State” as a foundation for wisdom upon which we must build to find solutions to the incessant killings. The article discusses the spate of gangster violence in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Plateau State, Nigeria, which resulted in the deaths of 108 people in three (3) days; 27th March, 2nd April and 14th April 2025. The author attributes the violence to “underlying communal issues” such as bad governance, shunting due process, lawless handling of grievances, and bias by law enforcers and security forces. The violence is often deployed by aggressive residents to terrorize their victims and exert claims to ownership of proprietary rights over territories.
The author argues that the incidents are linked to historical grievances and ethnic tensions, particularly between indigenous groups and migrant settlers. The government’s response to the violence has been inadequate, and the author suggests that a paradigm shift is needed to address the root causes of the violence. The author proposes restructuring Nigeria based on local identity of autochthonous residents or ethnic groups, as well as a doctrinal review of the rules of engagement of defense and security forces of Nigeria.
The article concludes that the unity of indigenous ethnic groups is vital, and that courage and robust political will are needed to confront the “underlying communal issues” that stoke the internecine violence across Jos Plateau and elsewhere in Nigeria. The author calls for a prescient blueprint to address the issues and ensure the security and welfare of residents in multi-cultural communities in Jos Plateau and elsewhere in Nigeria.
As a corollary, the article of Shabul Mazadu titled; “Plateau State Security: How FG, SG, & LG Goofed” left me wondering; if the defense and security forces of Nigeria are as helpless as they are made to sound by politicians, and, whether the forces look to citizens for political solutions to the unabating spate of gangster violence that makes caricatures of our forces who are gallant in supra national peace keeping assignments.
Efforts of the military led administration of Ibrahim Traore in Burkina Faso et al is a cryptic or benign threat to democracy in ECOWAS subregion. The subregional citizenry, especially youths, are intensely captivated to the idea that democratic governance offers no hope against hunger, terrorism, insurgency and “underlying communal issues” of security cum welfare. That, non-state acting (NSA) entities are questioning the sovereignty of countries in the subregion and unsettling lives and livelihoods without a commensurate response from country-specific forces of defense and security.
The aforesaid citizenship idiosyncrasies have filtered into Nigeria and is already leading to pockets of isolated protests here and there in overt support of the Ibrahim Traore military administration in Burkina Faso. Such overt threat to democracy in the subregion is ominous; and, is yet a juxta pox of the 25 unbroken years democracy in Nigeria that was celebrated by President Tinubu as a model for the subregion. Upon the backdrop of the observed subregional incongruity in governance, the President of Nigeria will do well to restore and rejuvenate the integrity and effectiveness of our defense and security forces as a way to promote political stability, economic prosperity and social justice that flow from democratic governance as a better model in the subregion. A situation where citizens will reflect on the good old days of security sanity under the military against what is obtainable may provide motivation for military intervention.
It’s jolting that massive influxes of new herds and herders to Plateau raise legitimate security concerns. The furlough of the cited 3-day attacks across different communities in Plateau State is yet to be over. The dust raised by the the 3-day carnage that killed at least 108 lives of citizens, billions of naira in monetary value of farm produce, crops, farm implements, motor bikes/vehicles, burnt residential apartments including family store houses and farmland has not settled; yet, a new legitimate concern has been raised by the high command of the defense and security forces of Nigeria.
The national psyche of citizens is still gripped by the trauma of human killings that ravaged the communities of Ron and Irigwe ethnic groups in Jos Plateau recently is forced to grapple with intelligence on fresh threats to security and welfare residents. This could be interpreted to the possibility of a devastating attack of a civil war proportion; the credibility of the source is not in doubt as the preeminent commander of the military formations in Jos Plateau.
Major General Folusho Oyinlola doubles as the Theatre Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and the General Officer Commanding of the Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army Jos Plateau; he raised the alarm over fresh threats to security and welfare; “There is a growing unease about the influx of a large number of cattle [herds and herders] into farming communities. While the movement of livestock in Barkin Ladi and indeed Plateau in general is not unusual, the scale and timings of this new influx raise legitimate security concerns. Unfortunately, this development has already resulted in adverse outcomes, including farm destruction, isolated attacks, and attacks on livestock. “The impact of this action on food security, economic stability, and social harmony cannot be over-emphasised.”
The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces needs to be on his watch and do the needful without any iota of delay. Could this be the looming threat to terminate the incumbent democratic administration as some persons have opined that only “war” can see President Bola Ahmed Tinubu out of Power and not 2027 elections. Gen Oyinlola convened a stakeholders’ meeting in Barkin Ladi to expressed concerns over recent killings in the area and urged stakeholders to unite in addressing the violence. He vowed to track down the perpetrators of the killings, saying the culprits will face the full wrath of the law. In addition, Oyinlola said the engagement was part of efforts to ensure a peaceful and productive farming season in the locality; “The farming season is already ongoing, and for many families, this is a period for securing their livelihood. Therefore, any disruption of farming activities now will have dire consequences for the rest of the year and beyond. To this end, this engagement is convened to hear from you, all stakeholders, to listen to your concerns.”
The meeting was attended by heads of security agencies, government officials, traditional rulers, and religious leaders. Regrettably, over the years, entreaties of Military communication in appeals to the traducers and aggressors of peaceful coexistence in Jos Plateau hasn’t changed the dynamics. A veteran journalist, Shabul Mazadu, cited the poignant comments of some personalities to describe the hapless handling of the Jos Plateau situation by governments: – Gen. Chris Alli, the six-month martial administrator of Plateau State in 2004 said “… the crises of Jos Plateau were orchestrated in the state …”; Gen. Saleh Maina, a former GOC of Army Armoured Division, said “Those who should know, know exactly what the problems are or what the causes of the conflicts are. And nobody, I repeat, nobody has made sincere effort to address any of the issues sincerely. That is why many of the conflicts keep recurring, that crisis keeps recurring”; Gen. Augustine Agundu, a former OPSH Commander, said “You have to understand the Plateau setting. The dirty soup is cooked in the capital city but the bitter taste comes out in the rural areas”; Gen. Gaki Shipi, Security Adviser to the governor of Plateau State, said “We are all aware that there are people who benefit from insecurity. The peace we have enjoyed all these while has put their business at a standstill. So, there is a high probability that they are the ones behind this sudden outbreak of this violence [on 27th March and 2nd April 2025 in Bokkos LGA]. Like you all know, previously, you could all lay your fingers on the cause, either farm destruction or rustling of cattle, but this time nothing happened.”
In light of the statements cited, the government at all tiers of FG, SG cum LG should have vigorously pursued the clues provided to name and shame the culprits to the public. But overlooking such and treating the signs and symptoms of the disease in fables including establishing a sub-national security outfit and scant laws has kept it growing and multiplying in different dimensions. Helpless citizens under hapless administrations of government may be at the mercy of brutal killers on the Plateau if the Federal government doesn’t act fast. Sadly, there seems to be no end in sight to what the world describes as ‘senseless’ killings. Many are of the opinion that it will take a “war” to terminate the tenure of the present democratic administration in power.
A Yoruba adage says; “oloju o ni fi oju sile ki talubo ko kowo” meaning the onus is on the owner of the eyes to guard it against specks.
The question is; will Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President and armed forces Commander-in-Chief of the federal republic of Nigeria watch, till our eyes are blinded?

Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi, is absolutely a commendable brand in Apostolic and Nation Building efforts towards a changed nation and a renewed and revived church, within the Nigeria Church and political ecosystem.

The Bold, Inspiring and Dynamic Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi is a man worthy of all encouragement to see him do more for the salvation of humanity and liberation of Africa and the black race.

The pen of this exceptional Scribe should not lack ink.

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