Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has reassured residents of Mangu Local Government Area that his administration will take every necessary step to protect their lives, property and ancestral lands following a deadly attack in the area.
Mutfwang gave the assurance on Thursday during a visit to Bin Mper community in the Kombun District of Mangu, where several people were killed and others injured in the recent attack.
The governor described the incident as barbaric, senseless and unacceptable, stressing that the loss of innocent lives was not only an attack on the affected community but also a direct affront to him and the Plateau State Government.
Addressing residents, particularly women in the community, Mutfwang said the government would strengthen existing security arrangements and introduce additional measures to prevent further attacks on vulnerable communities.
“This is not an attack on the community alone; it is an attack on me. I pray that God will grant you peace and comfort. The police have said that some persons have been arrested, and we will follow the matter to its logical conclusion,” he said.
The governor noted that the attack occurred shortly after the state government reviewed its security architecture in collaboration with security agencies, including the new General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Nigerian Army.
He called for more proactive, intelligence-led and coordinated security operations, emphasising the need to prevent attacks on vulnerable communities before they occur.
Mutfwang condoled with families who lost loved ones and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured. He also commended Plateau youths for their courage and resilience in supporting efforts to secure their communities.
He urged residents to remain peaceful, vigilant and law-abiding, noting that tackling insecurity would require stronger cooperation among communities, traditional institutions, government authorities and security agencies.
The governor expressed confidence that sustained military operations and collective determination would help Plateau State overcome banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities threatening the peace of the state.
Before visiting the community, Mutfwang received a security briefing from the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Nigerian Army.
He also visited the Mishkagham Mwaghavul, Da. John Putmang Hirse, to sympathise with the traditional ruler, bereaved families and the wider Mwaghavul community over the attack.
Mutfwang assured the traditional ruler that his administration would not abandon the people and reaffirmed its commitment to tackling banditry and other forms of criminality across the state.
He was accompanied by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Mrs. Abiodun Esiet, senior government officials and heads of security agencies in Plateau State.
In his response, Hirse thanked the governor for standing with the community during its period of grief. He described the attack as senseless and deliberate.
“This is something we least expected. People were asleep when they were massacred. Mangu is one of the most peaceful local government areas. We live peacefully with our neighbours and accommodate visitors, yet we were attacked,” he said.
The traditional ruler assured that the Mwaghavul people would continue to remain peaceful and law-abiding, insisting that intimidation would not force them to abandon their ancestral land.
Also speaking, the President of the Mwaghavul Development Association Women’s Wing, Mrs. Grace Gora, sympathised with the bereaved families and urged residents, particularly women, to remain calm while supporting government and security agencies working to restore peace.
The attack on Amper in the BWI District of Mangu on Tuesday left several people dead, while others were still reported missing. It was the third attack recorded in Mangu within a week, heightening concerns over the safety of residents.
Following the incident, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Maxwell Dangana, moved his tactical office to Mangu for two weeks as the military commenced Operation Hard Nut, aimed at flushing out terrorists and restoring normalcy in the area.
The Plateau State Police Command also confirmed the arrest of a suspect linked to the attack.
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