Plateau State, once known for its breath-taking landscapes and diverse cultures, has been marred by recurring needless violence and human-induced insecurity. For over two decades, the state has witnessed violent clashes, displacement, and loss of lives, leaving deep scars on its people and infrastructure. The state’s capital, Jos, has been a focal point of these conflicts, which have roots in complex historical, ethnic, and religious factors. Our Plateau State Bureau Chief, ATANG IZANG, in this article explores the 24- year plus trajectory of the dilemma of insecurity in Plateau State, examining its causes, effects, and responses of various stakeholders, in a bid to understand the dynamics of this protracted crisis.
Plateau State, one of the six states, located in the Middle Belt Region otherwise known constitutionally as the North Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria, has been plagued by persistent insecurity over the past 24 years.
The state, home to over 40 ethnic groups, has experienced recurring violent attacks, bloodshed, and agonies and cries, leaving many residents in perpetual fears for their lives.
In recent times, the state has witnessed a surge in violent attacks, with devastating consequences. The attacks from 2023 to 2025 have been marked recurring violence and insecurity, resulting in significant loss of lives and displacement of people.
Some of the notable attacks include:
Christmas 2023 attack: Around 150 people were massacred in Bokkos Local Government Area on Christmas Eve, marking one of the deadliest attacks in recent years.
April 2025 Attacks: Over 100 residents were killed in coordinated attacks by armed assailants in Bokkos and Bassa LGAs. Specifically:
- April 2, 2025: 52 people were killed in attacks on several communities in Bokkos LGA
- April 14, 2025: At least 54 Christians were killed in Zikke village, Bassa LGA, with many homes burned and dozens of families displaced.
Meanwhile, the causes and context of the recurring insecurity on the Plateau have not differed from the previous ones already established by different panel of inquiries setup by both state and federal governments. This much, the incumbent governor, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang corroborated by acknowledging that the attacks were a calculated campaign of land grabbing and economic sabotage designed to displace indigenous communities and cripple agriculture in those areas and the state at large.
However, eyewitnesses and local leaders have implicated suspected Fulani ethnic militias in several attacks, which have led to increased tensions between communities.
Government Responses
In response to these attacks, Plateau State government has condemned the attacks and called for calm, with security agencies deployed to affected areas. The governor has also reiterated his call for state police, citing the need for decentralised and community-based security architecture. Despite these efforts, insecurity persists in the state, with many residents questioning the effectiveness of the government’s response.
It’s recalled that in past the federal government’s response to crises in Plateau State since 2001 has been multi-faceted, involving various measures to address the root causes of the conflicts and restore peace. Here are some of the key initiatives:
- State of Emergency (2004): President Olusegun Obasanjo declared a state of emergency in Plateau State, suspending Governor Joshua Dariye and appointing an interim administrator, Major General Chris Alli, to restore order
- Peace Initiatives: The federal government launched peace initiatives, including dialogue between religious, ethnic, and community leaders, aimed at preventing further violence. Administrator Chris Alli developed a six-month program to restore peace, which included a peace conference involving the whole state
At the state level, several commissions of inquiry were set up to investigate the causes of the crises, including:
- Justice Niki Tobi Judicial Commission of Inquiry (2001): Investigated the September 2001 crisis in Jos and environs
- Presidential Peace Initiative Committee on Plateau State (2004): Headed by the late Shehu Idris, the Emir of Zazzau
- Justice Bola Ajibola Judicial Commission of Inquiry (2008): Investigated the November 2008 crisis
- Special Courts: Special Courts were established to try people suspected of involvement in the violence, with Administrator Chris Alli stating that justice would be dispensed without fear or favour
- Arrest and Prosecution: Efforts were made to arrest and prosecute perpetrators, although the effectiveness of these efforts has been questioned.
- Recent Engagements: In 2023, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang met with the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff in Abuja to discuss the security situation and seek assistance
Role of Security Agents
The role of security agents in dealing with the situation in Plateau State has been multi-faceted, involving various measures to address the root causes of the conflicts and restore peace. Key initiatives include:
- Operation Safe Haven (OPSH): A military task force established in 2010 to maintain peace and security challenges in the state, comprising the Nigerian Army, Air force, Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Department of State Security (DSS), which has had mixed results in managing conflicts and de-escalating violence.
- Deployment of Personnel and Equipment: OPSH has deployed personnel and equipment, including helicopters from the Nigerian Air force, to augment security efforts and provide air surveillance
- Intelligence Gathering and Community Engagement: Security agencies have worked with local communities to gather intelligence and build trust, helping to prevent attacks and promote peace and harmony.
- Recruitment of Vigilantes: The Plateau State government has recruited vigilantes to support OPSH and Operation Rainbow, a state security outfit, in maintaining peace and security.
Challenges and Concerns: The effectiveness of security agents in addressing the crisis has been questioned, with some expressing concerns about the slow response to attacks and perceived bias of security agencies.
Coordination: There have been efforts to improve coordination between security agencies, including the military, police, and state security outfits, to enhance response times and effectiveness.
Community Trust: Building trust between security agents and local communities has been crucial in preventing attacks and promoting peace.
Recent Developments
The Plateau State government has strengthened Operation Rainbow, recruiting 600 vigilantes to support security efforts in crisis-endemic areas. The government commissioned 34 Hilux vehicles to enhance security personnel’s mobility and response times. Similarly, the government is working closely with security agencies, including the military and police, to address the crisis and promote peace.
Role of Religious Organisations
Religious organisations have played a significant role in the conflicts in Plateau State, since the crisis broke out more than two decades ago. While they have contributed to peace-building efforts, they have also been implicated in exacerbating tensions and violence.
On the positive, some religious organisations have facilitated dialogue and mediation between conflicting groups, promoting peaceful coexistence. They have also on humanitarian grounds, provided aid to victims of violence, including food, shelter, and medical care.
While on the down side of it, some faith-based organisations have been known to spread radicalised views, which can fuel conflicts and violence. Similarly, places of worship and community halls have been used to mobilise groups for violence, reinforcing ethno-religious identities and conflicts.
Nevertheless, observers are of the opinion that it’s essential to monitor faith-based organisations to limit radicalised views and promote peaceful coexistence as well as developing structures for inter-group relations, such as sports complexes and town halls, can help mitigate conflicts and promote peace.
They also opined that government and philanthropists should collaborate to rebuild destroyed homes and facilitate the return of displaced persons.
Humanitarian Crisis
The insecurity in Plateau State, particularly in the state capital Jos, has significantly impacted the demography.
The attacks have resulted in significant displacement; with many people forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. Approximately 18, 751 people were displaced across 8 local government areas in the state between April 17 and July 10, 2023.
The violence has caused people to relocate to safer areas, altering the population distribution within the state capital and surrounding regions. The conflicts have resulted in significant loss of lives, with varying casualty figures reported across different local government areas. For instance, between April 17 and July 10, 2023, 17 people were killed in Bokkos, 234 in Mangu, and 39 in Barkin Ladi LGAs.
The humanitarian situation remains dire, with affected communities in need of support and protection, with IDP camps struggling to provide adequate support to affected individuals, including widows, orphans, and the elderly. About 2, 081 widows and 6, 066 orphans were reported in IDP camps, highlighting the severity of the crisis.
The insecurity has likely affected the state’s economy, with potential declines in investment, business activity, and overall development. The social fabric of the community has also been strained, with trust and cohesion eroded by recurring violence.
These demographic changes underscore the urgent need for effective measures to address the insecurity and promote peace in Plateau State. In the face of this catastrophes caused by the incessant insecurity, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed deep concern over the escalation of violent attacks and killings in Plateau and Benue States, warning of potential long-term consequences for food security and human rights.
What is the way forward? To address the insecurity in Plateau State, experts say the government needs to take a multi-faceted approach that includes:
- Deploying more security personnel to vulnerable areas and improving intelligence gathering to prevent attacks
- Addressing the underlying causes of the conflicts, such as land disputes and ethnic tensions, through dialogue and mediation
- Providing support to victims of attacks, including medical care, counselling, and economic assistance.
Until these measures are put in place, they observed that Plateau State will likely continue to experience insecurity, displacement, and loss of lives, adding that, the government must act swiftly to restore peace and ensure the safety of its citizens.
Here’s a detailed timeline of the crises in Plateau State:
1994: A political appointment by the then military administrator favouring a non-indigene (Hausa-Fulani), triggered resistance by the indigenous population, sparked violent protest that torched part of the then Jos Ultra-Modern Main Market or Terminus Market (it was eventually destroyed in 2002).
Early 2000s
- 2001: Massive violence in Jos, the state capital, claimed around 1, 000 lives, marking a turning point in the conflict between Christians and Muslims
- 2002-2004: Violent attacks spread to other local government areas, including Wase, Langtang North, Langtang South, Shendam, Mikang, Quan Pan, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom, with hundreds killed
Recurring Clashes
- 2008: Local government council elections sparked violence in Jos North LGA, killing approximately 312 people and injuring 323, with multi-million naira property destroyed
- 2010: An estimated 727 people were killed in attacks (about 500 in Dogo Na Hauwa in Jos South LGA) between January and December
- 2011: Over 200 people were killed and many villages burnt in reprisal killings
- 2018: 120 people were killed, and about 50 houses were burnt across Barkin Ladi, Mangu, and Riyom local government areas
Recent Attacks
- July 31, 2021: Clash between Fulani herders and Irigwe youth in Jebbu Miango, Bassa Local Government Area, left 5 dead and over 85 houses razed
- August 1, 2021: 12 people were killed in Tambora, Riyom LGA
- August 15, 2021: 25-year old Stephen Fwangmun was murdered while travelling to a convocation ceremony
- August 22, 2021: 22 people died, and 14 sustained injuries in an attack on Rukuba Road in Jos
- August 24, 2021: Over 35 people were killed in an attack in Yelwa Zamgam in Jos North LGA
Other Incidents
- February 2025: Suspected farmers killed 5 herders and their cows in Maiyanga, sparking reprisal attacks
- April 2, 2025: Armed men attacked several communities in Bokkos LGA, killing 52 people
- April 14, 2025: At least 40 people were killed in a midnight attack on Zike community in Bassa LGA
Source: (Plateau State crises timeline, bing.com)
