JOS, NIGERIA — Standing firm against the protracted wave of criminal violence that has long threatened the peace of the North Central region, Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, has declared an uncompromising stance against armed non-state actors. The Governor vowed that his administration will never succumb to external or internal pressures to negotiate with bandits, insurgents, or terrorists, choosing instead to deploy the full apparatus of the state to protect citizens, safeguard vulnerable communities, and defend democratic institutions.
Governor Mutfwang made the high-stakes declaration during a keynote address at a special public symposium held in Jos, the state capital, to commemorate Nigeria's Democracy Day. The prominent event, titled "Verified Conversations and Inside Plateau," was organized in strategic partnership with the Plateau State Government and drew a diverse audience of top state officials, including the Deputy Governor, Hon. Josephine Piyo, civil society leaders, youth organizations, and key traditional and community stakeholders.
Addressing the packed auditorium, Mutfwang acknowledged the profound psychological and physical toll that years of recurring security challenges have inflicted on the state. However, he drew a clear line in the sand regarding how his administration intends to restore order, stating categorically that governance and dialogue would only ever be conducted through lawful, constitutional, and democratic channels with law-abiding citizens, rather than via back-room concessions to merchants of terror.
The Governor’s rhetoric marks a significant departure from alternative regional strategies that have previously seen some states attempt amnesty programs, financial inducements, or peace pacts with bandit leadership—approaches that critics argue have often backfired by allowing criminal networks to rearm.
Plateau State will not negotiate with terrorists, Governor Mutfwang stated unequivocally, his remarks meeting with resonant applause from the gathered stakeholders. Our mandate is to protect our people, protect our communities, and protect the sanctity of our democracy. Anyone who harbors the illusion that unleashing violence on innocent populations will earn them a legitimate seat at the table of governance is deeply mistaken. We will not legitimize criminality under any guise.
Mutfwang emphasized that bowing to the demands of armed groups only undermines the sovereignty of democratic institutions and betrays the victims of past atrocities. He stressed that the state's security focus would remain entirely on deterrence, robust law enforcement, and the total reclamation of spaces currently destabilized by criminal elements.
Detailing the practical steps his administration has taken to confront recent flare-ups of violence, particularly the volatile situations that recently manifested in parts of southern Plateau, the Governor outlined a multifaceted emergency response strategy. He noted that the state's reaction to emerging threats has been characterized by swift administrative action, heightened intelligence gathering, and an expansion of humanitarian oversight.
When the crisis in southern Plateau emerged, we did not hesitate, the Governor explained. We responded swiftly by convening a high-level security council meeting to re-engineer our tactical approach, directly visiting Internally Displaced Persons camps to ensure immediate relief, and fundamentally strengthening our operational collaboration with federal security agencies.
Furthermore, Governor Mutfwang revealed that following direct consultations and subsequent approval from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a major expansion of the state’s localized security architecture is actively underway. This includes the massive recruitment and training of personnel for neighborhood watch programs and state-backed vigilante groups to provide vital frontline intelligence.
To complement these human assets, the state government has established dedicated emergency hotlines to encourage community-driven policing, allowing residents to report suspicious movements in real time. Mutfwang added that substantial capital investments are being directed toward acquiring advanced surveillance technology, drones, and setting up permanent, fortified security outposts in flashpoint rural areas to disrupt bandit transit corridors.
In a deeper diagnostic assessment of the violence, Governor Mutfwang pointed an accusing finger at what he described as geopolitical enemies of Plateau. He argued that the seemingly endless cycle of attacks on farming communities is not merely sporadic criminality, but part of a highly coordinated, orchestrated conspiracy designed to sabotage the state’s agrarian economy, discourage foreign direct investment, and trap the people of Plateau in a state of perpetual poverty.
Despite these existential economic threats, the Governor urged the people of the state to remain resilient and aggressively project a pro-business narrative to the rest of the country and the international community. He maintained that the true character of Plateau is defined by its hospitality, agricultural wealth, and immense tourism potential, not the headlines of conflict.
Despite all these manufactured challenges, our state's profile to the outside world is steadily rising, Mutfwang asserted, pointing to recent economic data. Many Nigerians and foreign investors still retain deep, unwavering faith in the potential of our state. That is precisely why today, the patronage of hotels and hospitality industries in Plateau State ranks as the highest across the entire northern region, second only to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The public lecture concluded with a collective call to action from community leaders, who pledged their support to the state’s non-negotiation policy. As Plateau navigates its complex security landscape, Governor Mutfwang’s message remains clear: the state will rely on technological modernization, community vigilance, and absolute legal resolve—never capitulation—to guarantee long-term peace.
