JOS — Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has leveled a grave allegation against the political class, asserting that the persistent insecurity and sporadic violent attacks plaguing the state are the deliberate handiwork of desperate politicians. Speaking on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the Government House in Jos, the governor suggested that the primary objective of these actors is to destabilize the region for partisan gain, rather than traditional motives of ethnic or religious conflict.
Addressing a delegation of journalists who paid him a courtesy visit, Governor Mutfwang provided a detailed assessment of the state’s security landscape. He argued that a rigorous analysis of the timing and location of major atrocities reveals a pattern that points directly to political sponsorship. According to the governor, the cycles of violence in the "Home of Peace and Tourism" have become synchronized with the nation's electoral calendar, suggesting that human lives are being used as leverage in a high-stakes game of political maneuvering.
"I make bold to say that the insecurity situation in Plateau State is being sponsored by desperate politicians who are out to destabilize the state," Mutfwang declared with emphasis. "If you noticed, this violence and attacks always peak during election cycles. What does that tell us? It is a clear indication that it is political; in fact, they are more political than terrorism."
To support his thesis, the governor drew a historical timeline of tragedies that have scarred the state. He specifically recalled the horrific events of March 7, 2010, in Dogo Nahawa, where a midnight raid resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 residents—an event that occurred during a period of intense national political transition. He also cited the March 29 attack in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area, which claimed more than 30 lives. In each instance, the governor noted that the proximity of these events to major political shifts or election seasons was too consistent to be dismissed as mere coincidence.
Governor Mutfwang further challenged the prevailing narrative that the violence is primarily a product of religious extremism or a "holy war" between different faiths. He pointed to recent incidents in the Kanam, Wase, and Quan Pan Local Government Areas—regions that are predominantly Muslim. He argued that if the attackers were truly driven by religious zealotry or a desire to expand a particular faith, they would not systematically target and kill members of their own religious community.
"If the violence were driven by religious extremism, attackers would not target people of the same faith," the governor explained to the press. "So, from our investigations, we have discovered that these attacks are being sponsored by desperate politicians who are bent on destroying Plateau. But we will not allow that to happen."
The governor's remarks highlight a growing frustration within the state executive regarding the difficulty of securing the region when the threats may be emanating from within the organized political structure. By reframing the conflict as "sponsored destabilization," Mutfwang is calling for a shift in how security agencies approach intelligence gathering in the state. He suggested that the focus should not only be on the "boots on the ground" in rural forests but also on the financiers and masterminds residing in urban centers and political corridors.
The Governor’s administration has been under pressure to curb the resurgence of farmer-herder clashes and communal raids that have displaced thousands over the last year. However, Mutfwang’s latest statements imply that military solutions alone may be insufficient if the underlying cause is an artificial crisis manufactured to create an aura of ungovernability. He noted that the ultimate goal of these sponsors is to distract the government from its developmental agenda and to provide a basis for political upheaval.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the governor assured the people of Plateau State that his administration is working closely with security agencies to unmask the individuals behind the bloodshed. He stated that investigative leads are being followed and that the state will be uncompromising in its pursuit of justice. "We are watching, and we are documenting," he added, warning that the era of using violence as a shortcut to power is coming to an end.
The claims have sent ripples through the political landscape of the Middle Belt, as observers wait to see if the governor will eventually name the individuals he describes as "desperate politicians." For the residents of Plateau, who have lived through decades of recurring trauma, the governor's shift in rhetoric offers a different perspective on their suffering, placing the blame squarely on the shoulders of power-seekers rather than their neighbors of different ethnicities or religions.
As the state moves toward future electoral seasons, the governor's warning serves as a preemptive strike against those who might seek to weaponize insecurity. Mutfwang concluded his address by reiterating his commitment to the "Time is Come" agenda, insisting that no amount of politically motivated violence would deter his government from restoring the dignity and safety of every Plateau citizen.
If the Governor is correct that these attacks are timed to election cycles, what specific measures do you think the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies should take to safeguard the upcoming 2027 polls in Plateau State?
