General Rogers Nicholas (rtd), former commander of Operation Safe Haven and Chairman of the Plateau State Special Fact-Finding Committee, has said reprisal and land disputes are behind the unending crisis in Plateau State.
Nicholas urged the government to adopt grassroots-driven security reforms to address the lingering violence in Plateau State.
Speaking at a special security conference organised by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Plateau Security in Abuja yesterday, General Nicholas shared firsthand insights from his tenure managing security in the volatile region and outlined key recommendations from months of field consultations and analysis.
Nicholas described the crisis in Plateau as a complex web of historical grievances, ethnic tensions, land disputes, open grazing conflicts, systemic poverty, illegal mining, youth unemployment, porous borders, and a fragile criminal justice system.
“One of the key drivers of this crisis is the cycle of reprisal attacks — farmer-herder conflicts that lead to community-wide violence,” he stated.
As commander, Nicholas said he prioritised trust-building and community engagement, hosting town hall meetings with local and Fulani leaders, and introducing community-based compensation systems for cattle rustling and crop destruction incidents.
While these efforts saw temporary success, he lamented that many were abandoned after his tenure, leading to renewed tensions.
He highlighted the top recommendations proposed by the Special Fact-Finding Committee: “Establish peace and security committees in every community headed by traditional rulers and inclusive of all ethnic and religious groups.
“Strict enforcement and review of the Plateau State Anti-Land Grabbing Law (2022).
“Creation of designated grazing routes and ranching areas, in collaboration with local authorities.
“Strengthening the criminal justice system, with stiffer penalties for cattle rustling, illegal arms possession, and farmland destruction.
“Formation of an Interstate Joint Security Task Force to coordinate efforts with neighbouring states — Kaduna, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Bauchi — to curb cross-border attacks.
“Integrating local vigilante groups into formal security architecture, such as Operation Rainbow, to promote accountability and professionalism.
“Improved rural communication infrastructure to enable rapid response to attacks, Legislative Oversight and Stakeholder Engagement.”
In his remarks, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Wale Ahmed (Agege), reiterated the House of Representatives’ resolve to unravel the root causes of Plateau’s protracted violence and deliver implementable solutions.
“These opportunities have been given to us by the House to find out exactly what the causes of violence are — the perpetual, repeated cycle of violence in Plateau State — and what the solutions are,” he said. “We are all concerned and want the world to know what is happening.”
He added that, over the past month, the committee had expanded its outreach, sending 237 letters to institutions and individuals across Plateau State.
“So far, 47 responses have been received, including submissions from the Plateau State House of Assembly, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim Youth Foundation, University of Jos Centre for Conflict Management, Operation Rainbow, Miyetti Allah, as well as various traditional councils, emirates, and security agencies.
He also noted that the committee visited former Governor Joshua Dariye, who led the state during the 2001 Jos crisis, to draw from his experience and perspective.
Ahmed affirmed the committee’s ongoing engagement with civil society groups, traditional rulers, and security agencies to ensure the final report reflects the people’s will.
