The police on Wednesday said two key suspects have been arrested in connection with attacks on Plateau communities, leaving over 100 persons death, houses razed and many displaced.
In response to the relentless attacks, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, on Wednesday, announced a restriction on night grazing and a ban on transportation of cattle by vehicle in the state after 7.00 pm, effective Wednesday.
The governor also announced restrictions on the use of motorcycles from 7.00 pm to 6:00 am across the state until further notice.
In a state broadcast on Wednesday, Mutfwang said the steps were to restore calm and strengthen vigilance in the state.
He said, “I hereby announce the following measures, effective Wednesday, April 16: night grazing of cattle is strictly prohibited; transportation of cattle by vehicle is banned after 7:00 pm; the use of motorcycles is restricted from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am across the state until further notice.”
The announcement comes as operatives of the Nigeria Police arrested two key suspects in connection with the recent attacks in Bokkos.
The Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
The PUNCH reports that at least 51 people, including women, children, and the elderly, were killed in the latest attacks on Kwall District in Bassa Local Government Area.
Homes were equally razed, properties destroyed, and scores of people injured.
The attacks came amid the government’s efforts to address similar violence in Bokkos Local Government Area, where 52 lives were lost and hundreds of homes burnt.
In his broadcast on Wednesday, Mutfwang vowed that killers responsible for the attacks in Bassa communities and other parts of the state, alongside their sponsors, will not go unpunished.
He described the attacks as “coordinated acts of terror” aimed at displacing residents and undermining their right to exist peacefully on their ancestral lands.
“To the killers and their sponsors, know this: your evil shall not go unpunished. You may run, but you will not hide. Plateau will rise, Plateau will prevail,” he said.
The governor said troops and security personnel had been deployed and reinforced in vulnerable communities.
He added, “We are also activating community-based response systems. I urge traditional leaders and youth associations to reactivate local vigilante groups and organize night patrols in coordination with the security agencies.
“We must protect our communities while upholding the rule of law.”
He asked the newly inaugurated inter-religious council to begin immediate engagement with all stakeholders to address the issues surrounding the attacks.
“I shall also be appointing a special envoy on peace to lead grassroots consultations and intelligence coordination.
“A fact-finding committee comprising respected independent voices will be constituted to investigate the root cause of this resurgence in violence and offer actionable recommendations.
“Let it be known: the Plateau spirit is resilient. We are a people of peace, renowned for our hospitality and unity across religious and ethnic lines. Those who seek to tear us apart must not succeed,” Mutfwang said.
The governor directed hospitals to provide free medical care to victims, adding that relief materials and food supplies, alongside temporary shelters, would also be provided to the displaced persons.
He said he had received assurance of full support from President Bola Tinubu, urging residents to remain calm and vigilant.
“Let me reassure you: my government is alive to its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, and we are rising to the occasion more determined than ever,” the governor said.
Speaking on the arrested suspects, Adejobi said, “Preliminary investigations and operations in response to these attacks have led to the arrest of two suspects in connection with the killings in Bokkos, who are currently assisting with the ongoing investigation.
“The Nigeria Police Force is diligently working to uncover the motives behind these attacks, identify and apprehend other suspects involved in the killings.”
He said the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetoku, who visited the state on Tuesday, ordered the immediate deployment of more police personnel and critical resources.
The police boss also directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Kwazhi Yakubu, to take full charge of operations in the state.
Adejobi said the DIG had already embarked on aerial surveillance of Bokkos and Bassa local government areas and was engaging community leaders and stakeholders to build trust and enhance security collaboration.
He said, “The IGP has assured the residents of Plateau State that the Nigeria Police Force is fully committed to restoring peace and order and preventing further acts of violence in the state.
“Members of the public are urged to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies, and provide adequate information that may assist in the ongoing investigation.”
NGF, Tambuwal urge intervention
The fresh waves of deadly violence in Plateau State have provoked a groundswell of national and international outrage, with leaders and advocacy groups calling for immediate action to halt the bloodshed and bring perpetrators to justice.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, in a statement signed by its Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, expressed sorrow over the killings, describing the renewed attacks as “unhelpful” and “tragic” at a time when the state had been enjoying relative peace.
“We call on community and religious leaders to rally behind Governor Caleb Mutfwang to douse tension, reconcile minds, and build sustainable peace in Plateau.
“We call on everyone to understand that the souls already lost are not just numbers; they are the breadwinners, hopes, and pride of many families.
“We call for an immediate cessation of violence of any kind against fellow members of the human community,” the statement added.
Former Sokoto State Governor and serving senator, Aminu Tambuwal, condemned the attacks as “cruel, unjustified, and intolerable,” stressing that the Federal Government must rise to its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.
Tambuwal, in a statement released via his official X handle, said no society should condone such acts of brutality.
“I strongly condemn the recent wave of horrific killings and destruction across communities in Plateau State.
“These senseless attacks are cruel, unjustified, and must never be tolerated,” he said.
Expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy, he extended condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected, assuring the people of Plateau of his solidarity during what he termed a “painful and trying time.”
Tambuwal also stressed the need for immediate action from security agencies to halt the cycle of violence and ensure that perpetrators were brought to justice.