The Northern Senators Forum has called for urgent and sustained security action to end the renewed killings in Plateau State, following an overnight attack that reportedly left at least 25 people dead, mostly women and children.
Reacting to the August 18 attack, the Forum described the killings as “one too many” and warned that the recurring cycle of violence, displacement and destruction in Plateau State could no longer be allowed to continue.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, the senators said the latest victims added to the heavy toll of violence recorded in Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and other parts of the state.
“This cycle of bloodshed must end,” the Forum declared, while calling on governments at all levels to move beyond condolences and take decisive measures to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further attacks.
The senators commended the Nigerian Army and Operation Enduring Peace for their response to the latest crisis, while demanding sustained security operations to identify, apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the attacks.
They also welcomed the deployment of additional troops and equipment to vulnerable communities, as well as the relocation of the Operation Enduring Peace tactical headquarters from Jos to Mangu Local Government Area.
According to the Forum, the relocation by the Commander of OPEP, Major General Williams Maxwell Dangana, should bring operational command closer to communities affected by the violence and reduce delays in responding to security threats.
However, the senators stressed that military action alone would not resolve the crisis, calling for broader political, social and economic measures to address the underlying causes of the conflict.
The Forum urged the Plateau State Government to use its constitutional and budgetary powers to address the factors driving the violence and facilitate dialogue among farmers, herders and traditional institutions.
It specifically called for discussions on land use, grazing routes and compensation for properties destroyed during attacks.
The senators also demanded a transparent compensation and resettlement mechanism for victims and internally displaced persons, warning that unresolved grievances could deepen tensions and trigger further reprisals.
They further called for the deployment of drones, CCTV cameras and early-warning systems in identified flashpoints, including Ampang, Kombul, Mangu and the Gindiri axis.
The Forum said improved surveillance and early-warning mechanisms would enable security agencies to identify threats before attackers reach vulnerable communities.
While acknowledging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Plateau State and federal government interventions, the senators said the scale of the crisis required sustained action beyond official visits and assurances.
They cited Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
The senators said the constitutional provision must translate into concrete measures capable of protecting citizens and restoring confidence in affected communities.
They also urged residents to remain calm and avoid reprisals or taking the law into their own hands, while encouraging communities to provide security agencies with information that could assist in identifying and apprehending perpetrators.
The Northern Senators Forum said Plateau’s prolonged violence had become a major test of the government’s ability to protect vulnerable communities and restore lasting peace.
The Forum commiserated with families who lost loved ones in the latest attacks and prayed for the recovery of those injured.
