President Bola Tinubu has vowed to deploy the full powers of the Federal Government against individuals identified as responsible for sustaining the recurring violence in Plateau State, warning that those found culpable would face decisive action.
Tinubu issued the warning on Tuesday night at the Presidential Villa during a high-level meeting with Plateau stakeholders led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang, including all living former governors of the state. The session, which lasted several hours, ended around 8pm.
According to visuals released by the State House media office on Wednesday, the President said the Federal Government would act once those instigating or financing the violence are identified.
“If you identify and you know the name of troublemakers, agents or provocateurs who want to continue killing or instigate killing, let us know.
“We will use the instrument of office to deal with them,” Tinubu said.
He stressed that security agencies would not hesitate to move against such persons once credible intelligence is provided, insisting that the cycle of violence in the state must be broken.
Tinubu also endorsed a newly constituted peace committee involving former governors of Plateau State, directing them to work as a single body to review existing white papers on past conflicts and present consolidated recommendations for implementation.
“Call one another. Ignore the Governor’s Committee if you have to, or incorporate them. Take that white paper, go through it among yourselves and agree to implement it.
“If the ones you have chosen before now are not working, you have to mix and amend membership.
“Forget those committees you mentioned to me, if it’s not working, it’s not working. Consider this group as the committee until we find a lasting solution,” he said.
The President further directed that inactive or ineffective committees be restructured or dissolved, adding that the new arrangement would serve as the central framework for peace efforts in the state.
He also renewed his push for the creation of state police, describing it as a key solution to Plateau’s security challenges.
He said, “Through the legislators who are here, we are going to work together to establish state police on a national scale.
“I believe that once we have a state police, enforcement of laws will take care of some of these problems for us.
“We must stop creating widows, widowers and orphans. There must be peace.”
Tinubu also urged greater inclusion of non-indigenes in Plateau State governance structures as part of confidence-building measures, adding that the Federal Government was willing to support public enlightenment campaigns against discrimination and violence.
Governor Mutfwang, in his remarks, described the meeting as historic, noting that it was the first time all living former governors of Plateau State were gathered in one forum.
He said, “The coming together of the former governors has never happened before.
“This is the first time it is happening, and I believe that is a step we can build upon.
“Since we have closed the political space, I am sure some of the issues that have been politicised have been narrowed out, and we will be able to move together as brothers.”
The meeting also followed earlier engagements between Tinubu and Plateau stakeholders, including a visit to Jos after the Palm Sunday killings in Angwan Rukuba that left dozens dead.
Plateau State has long struggled with cycles of ethno-religious and farmer-herder violence, with repeated attacks recorded in local government areas including Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu and Bassa.
