Plateau Elders Urge Tinubu to Address Crisis Root Causes

During President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's visit to Plateau State, elders, represented by former governor Jonah Jang, expressed that the persistent crisis in the state is politically motivated and primarily driven by land grabbing rather than merely being a farmer-herder conflict. They highlighted that the violence has led to the destruction of 160 communities and the displacement of thousands of residents.

The elders criticized the federal government's reactive approach to security, urging for a more proactive strategy that includes increased personnel deployment and better coordination among security agencies. They also called for the recruitment of local forest guards to enhance understanding of the terrain and proposed the establishment of a special intervention fund to facilitate the safe return of displaced persons to their ancestral homes.

Despite the challenges, Plateau leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peace and collaboration with the federal government to restore stability in the state.