Governor Mutfwang Reclassifies Plateau Violence As Terrorism

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has officially characterised the recurring attacks in the state as acts of terrorism.

Speaking in an interview on News Central TV yesterday, the governor said the violence is no longer merely communal conflict but a calculated campaign of terror designed to destabilise the region.

Governor Mutfwang said what was happening was terrorism, adding that 80 per cent of the insecurity challenges on the Plateau were pure terrorism. He stressed that terrorists must continue to be seen as enemies of the state who are affecting the sovereign integrity of Nigeria.

The governor also argued that the scale of destruction in areas like Bokkos and Riyom suggests a level of organisation and funding that transcends local grievances and mere communal conflict.

He challenged the federal security architecture to match this assessment and called for a re-evaluation of the rules of engagement for security forces stationed in the North-Central zone.

“We have some of the most treacherous terrains and a lot of ungoverned territories that make access difficult even for security agencies, and this is one of the concerns we have raised with the federal government,” he said.

He commended the security agencies for their tireless efforts in addressing insecurity.

The Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of News Central TV, Kayode Akintemi, said the station organised a Middle Belt Town Hall in the state to address insecurity and violence in areas such as Bokkos, Mangu and Jos.