By Shikmuut Bawa, Jos.
The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has renewed calls for a united front against insecurity as the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on the National Security Summit held its North-Central Zonal Public Hearing on Thursday in Jos.
Represented by his deputy, Josephine Piyo, Governor Mutfwang described the hearing as timely and necessary, noting that Nigeria continues to confront insurgency, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes. He lamented the devastating impact on Plateau State—once celebrated as the Home of Peace and Tourism—revealing that over 400 communities have been attacked and nearly 12,000 lives lost between 2001 and 2025.
He warned that many of the attacks appear to be strategically coordinated, motivated by territorial, economic, and political interests, including land grabbing and illegal mining orchestrated by organised criminal networks. Tackling these threats, he said, requires decisive, collaborative, and multidimensional action.
The Governor commended Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Committee for choosing Jos as the venue for the North-Central hearing, describing it as symbolic and reflective of the urgent need to restore peace in the region.
He urged stakeholders to prioritise honest, solution-driven proposals, emphasizing that “this is not the time for blame, but for unity in confronting insecurity and rebuilding Plateau and Nigeria.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee and leader of the delegation, Senator Abba Moro, stated that the hearing aligns with the legislative agenda of the 10th Senate, which prioritizes inclusiveness and collaborative decision-making for national stability.
He noted that Nigeria’s security challenges—ranging from banditry and insurgency to farmer–herder clashes and kidnapping—demand broad consultations and community-driven responses. The summit, he said, seeks to harvest expert opinions, grassroots insights, and first-hand experiences that will guide legislative reforms and strengthen the country’s security institutions.
Senator Moro identified economic hardship, porous borders, arms proliferation, youth unemployment, and unresolved grievances as critical drivers of insecurity. He urged participants to make “concise, actionable, and realistic recommendations.”
The Committee commended the Plateau State Government for its ongoing peacebuilding efforts and called for sustained collaboration among community leaders, security agencies, and all tiers of government.
The public hearing continued with submissions from stakeholders across the North Central region.
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