Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, delivered an impassioned state broadcast on Monday, addressing the growing security crisis within the state. 

In his address, the governor directly accused “armed assailants, suspected to be Fulani militia” of being responsible for a series of coordinated and brutal attacks.

Governor Mutfwang further asserted that these attacks amount to ethnic cleansing and bear the characteristics of genocide. 

Mutfwang delivered his address with a “deeply burdened heart” following the latest massacre in Kwall District of Bassa Local Government Area in the early hours of Sunday, April 13th, 2025. 

He stated that these attackers descended on the peaceful communities of Zike and Kimakpa, resulting in the deaths of “no fewer than 45 persons, including women, children, and the elderly,” without any provocation.

The governor lamented the destruction caused, noting that homes were razed, properties destroyed, scores of people were injured, and families were torn apart.

He emphasised the timing of this tragedy, occurring while the government and security agencies were already dealing with the aftermath of similar violence in Bokkos Local Government Area, where “in recent days, 52 lives were lost and hundreds of homes reduced to ashes.”

In a strong and unequivocal statement, Governor Mutfwang declared, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! The lives of Plateau people matter. We will no longer allow our communities to be turned into killing fields.”

He asserted that these were not isolated incidents but “coordinated acts of terror aimed at instilling fear, displacing our people, and ultimately undermining our right to exist peacefully on our ancestral lands.”

The governor firmly rejected the narrative of “mere farmer-herder clashes”, labelling it as “not only misleading and dangerous, but it also disrespects the memory of those brutally murdered in cold blood.” 

He stated unequivocally, “What we are witnessing is a calculated campaign of ethnic cleansing, an act that bears all the hallmarks of genocide. To suggest otherwise is to deny a grim and painful reality.”

He drew a direct line to past atrocities, recalling “the horror of the Dyanburuk (Dogo Na Hawa) massacre of 2010, the bloodshed in Riyom and Barkin-Ladi, as well as the Mangu and Bokkos Christmas Eve massacre that perished several lives.” 

Governor Mutfwang asserted that “the pattern of the attacks since then has been the same, aimed at wiping communities and taking their lands forcefully.”

Despite the gravity of the situation, Governor Mutfwang reassured the people of his government’s commitment to protecting lives and property. He recounted his visit to the attacked communities and the “heartrending” conditions of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). 

He expressed gratitude to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for their efforts in providing aid.

Addressing the victims of the Kwall attacks directly, he promised, “Help is on the way.” He detailed the State Security Council meeting held earlier today and the directives issued to hospitals to treat the injured at no cost.

He also outlined ongoing efforts to provide relief materials and shelter for the displaced.

Governor Mutfwang revealed that he had personally contacted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who expressed deep concern and assured the state of the federal government’s full support.

He also stated that he is in constant communication with key security stakeholders and that troops and other security personnel have been deployed and reinforced in vulnerable communities.

While commending the efforts of security agencies, he stressed that “more must be done and done urgently,” calling for strengthened intelligence gathering, improved response times, and the swift apprehension and prosecution of those responsible for the attacks. 

“Plateau blood must no longer be spilt with impunity,” he declared.

Extending his deepest condolences to the bereaved families, Governor Mutfwang urged community leaders, traditional rulers, religious figures, and youths to remain calm and vigilant, cooperate with security agents, share credible information, and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

He called on distinguished statesmen across communities and faiths to “rally round each other”, emphasising that “this is a battle for the soul of Plateau and not any ethnic group.” 

He urged them to “speak with a voice of conscience and reasoning” and to collectively rise against criminality and expose the sponsors of violence.

In conclusion, Governor Mutfwang thanked national and international partners for their continued support and issued a stark warning to the “killers and their sponsors”, stating, “Your evil shall not go unpunished. You may run, but you will not hide. Plateau will rise. Plateau will prevail.”