By Golok Nanmwa
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has issued a stern warning to community leaders and groups that any further unauthorised blockage of highways or harm to innocent passers-by will no longer be tolerated, vowing to hold local leadership directly accountable for such breaches.
The governor made the declaration on Friday during a media briefing following an expanded State Security Council meeting at the Government House in Jos.
The meeting was convened to review the escalating violence, including gun attacks on rural communities and subsequent reprisal incidents that claimed lives on major roads.
Mutfwang expressed deep sorrow over the recent spate of killings, including the mining tragedy in Zurak, Wase Local Government Area, the assaults in Dorowa Babuje and Jong communities in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, and attacks on innocent travellers.
He described many of the deaths as “totally avoidable” and strongly condemned the cycle of violence.
“The government will not accept anybody who blocks the highway without authorisation. “
” We will make sure that highways and roads are accessible to people as an entitlement. “
“Only authorised law enforcement agencies are allowed to block the road,” he stated emphatically.
He further warned, “Anybody passing through any community and is put in harm’s way, that community leadership will be held responsible. We will not accept it any further.”
The governor’s comments come against the backdrop of reports of road blockades in parts of Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas following gunmen attacks, which allegedly triggered reprisals targeting innocent travellers, including traders, and sparked tensions in Jos and surrounding areas.
Mutfwang stressed that victims in these incidents were “innocent” individuals with no links to any crime or suspicion.
He reiterated that “every life on the Plateau is sacred” and that the government would ensure the rule of law prevails, without allowing anyone to take the law into their own hands.
Mutfwang appealed to youths, elders, and community leaders to exercise restraint and demonstrate leadership, urging families of victims not to be provoked into actions that could further escalate the situation.
The governor also dismissed narratives portraying Plateau roads as unsafe as “mischief” aimed at de-marketing the state.
He insisted that recent incidents are isolated and that Plateau remains a home of peace and tourism.
In a related development, he warned against the misuse of social media to incite hatred or violence, assuring that authorities would pursue “purveyors of misinformation” spreading false claims to destabilise the state.
Commissioner of Police CP Bassey Ewah, who spoke at the occasion, corroborated the governor’s briefing, confirming ongoing intelligence-led operations, combined security show-of-force operations, and raids to track down perpetrators.
He dismissed circulating social media reports of additional corpse discoveries as unfounded, emphasising that Plateau remains calm and safe for residents and visitors to go about their lawful activities.
The security chiefs assured that both kinetic and non-kinetic measures would be intensified to sustain the relative peace enjoyed in recent months and prevent recurrence, especially ahead of the farming season.
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