Former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi has condemned the latest killings in Benue and Plateau states, describing the attacks as “painful, disturbing and unacceptable”.

Obi, in a statement posted on his X account on Monday, reacted to the killing of at least 16 persons in the Otukpo-Nobi community, Benue State and the murder of nine members of a family, including a two-month-old baby in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The weekend attacks also claimed two more lives in Akpachi village, Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area, bringing the Benue attacks’ death toll to at least 18.
He expressed concern over the continued violence, saying: “The killings are a reflection of a worsening security crisis that has left many communities living in fear.”

For years, families in Benue, Plateau and other communities across Nigeria have lived in the constant shadow of fear, violence and displacement. Mothers have buried their children, children have been orphaned overnight, farmers have abandoned their fields, entire communities have been destroyed. We cannot go on like this accepting this tragic cycle as normal. It isn’t.”

Obi said the primary responsibility of government was the protection of lives and property.
Protection of lives and property is the first responsibility of any government. In Nigeria all lives matter and every life lost is one too many. “They are not just numbers. They are fathers, mothers, children, breadwinners and future leaders whose dreams have been violently cut short.

He called for a step beyond routine condemnations to decisive action, urging authorities to bolster intelligence gathering, improve rapid response capabilities and ensure perpetrators face justice.

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“It’s time to move beyond the usual condemnations after each attack. Nigerians deserve a security architecture that is proactive and not reactive, intelligence-driven, rapid response and accountable” The perpetrators of these atrocities must be identified, arrested and tried. The culture of impunity must end.

Obi also commiserated with the bereaved families and the governments of Benue and Plateau states and wished the injured speedy recovery.

“This is not about politics. This is about humanity. We must gather the collective will to secure our nation and restore hope to our people. “No country can develop when its citizens live in fear and no society can prosper where innocent blood continues to flow unabated.”

Worries over insecurity in parts of Benue and Plateau states have been reawakened by the recent attacks, with growing calls for stronger security measures to end the recurring violence and protect vulnerable communities.

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Gunmen in the early hours of Tuesday attacked the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State.

The attack was confirmed in a statement by the NIPSS Head of Public Affairs Department, Dr Osime Samuel, it was reported.

“Security personnel and relevant security agencies brought the situation under control promptly,” he said, adding that “there is no threat to the safety of the participants, staff, residents or facilities of the Institute and normal activities are continuing as scheduled.”

Reacting to speculations of the death of some security agents during the attack, Samuel said such reports remain unconfirmed and further updates will be made public as soon as verified information is available.

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, wishes to inform the general public that there was a security incident in the vicinity of the Institute in the early hours of today.

“The situation was swiftly brought under control by the quick response of the security personnel and relevant security agencies. There is no current threat to the safety of participants, staff, residents or facilities of the Institute and regular activities are proceeding on schedule.

Security agencies have launched investigations to know how the incident happened. It would be premature to speculate on the nature, scope or outcome of the event as investigations are ongoing. Therefore, the Institute is unable to confirm information currently circulating on social media and other unofficial platforms.

“NIPSS is in close contact with the relevant authorities and will share verified information as soon as it is available. We urge the public and media to rely on official communications from the Institute and relevant security agencies.

“The Management of NIPSS remains committed to the safety and security of all members of the Institute community and appreciates the professionalism of the security personnel and agencies involved in the response.

“Further updates will be provided in due course,” the official statement said.

Some reports, however, said a police officer attached to a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police and two soldiers were killed in the exchange of gunfire during the incident.

NIPSS is Nigeria’s premier policy institution charged with the training of senior public officials, military officers and policy strategists from all parts of the country.

Security has been increased around the institute and investigations and manhunt operations are underway at the time of filing this report.

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The Plateau State chapter of the Kautal Pulaaku Fulbe Association of Nigeria, KPFAN, has berated former Governor Jonah David Jang over his opposition to a recent court ruling granting indigeneship to Hausa residents in Jos North Local Government Area based on their birth and long-term stay in the state.

Reacting to the ruling in a statement on Saturday, Mr Jang said the judgment would have serious implications for the state’s identity, cultural heritage and indigenous rights.

“The issue of citizenship, residency, and indigenship in the state has been at the heart of political and social discourse for decades and why should the court rush to take a position on an issue that may escalate tension.

He argued that changing the existing framework could create tensions and undermine the rights of groups that have traditionally been recognized as indigenous to the state.

But the Fulani group, in a statement on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Haruna Idris Bayero, said the elder statesman’s opposition to the ruling was not only unfortunate but dangerous to the unity of the people and the fragile peace in the state.

Bayero stated that Jang’s position contravenes the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states that every citizen is equal and there is no discrimination based on tribe, origin and religion.

“The recent utterances of former Plateau State Governor, Senator Jonah David Jang, against the issuance of indigene certificates to Hausa/Fulani residents of Plateau State have been received with utter dismay and disappointment by the Kautal Pulaaku Fulbe Association of Nigeria (KPFAN)”, the statement said.

Bayero continued:

His position is not only unfortunate but a dangerous relic of ethnic exclusivism that offends the clear provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended).

“Senator Jang’s position is in contradiction to Section 42 of the Nigerian Constitution which forbids discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, place of origin or religion.

“Every Nigerian citizen, including Hausa/Fulani families that have been living in Plateau State for generations – some for over a century- has the right to be recognised as bona fide citizens of the state they live in, contribute to and pay taxes to. Citizenship is not a privilege to be dispensed on the basis of parochial loyalties.

“The indigene-settler dichotomy has been exploited over the years to marginalize fellow Nigerians. Many of the Hausa/Fulani communities in Plateau were born there, have their ancestral graves there and have contributed immensely to the economy, security and cultural life of the state. It’s a historical injustice to deny them certificates just because their great-grandparents migrated before the creation of the state.

“It is no longer news that there have been cycles of recurring violence in Plateau State. Our association strongly believes that the denial of justice and equality to all citizens regardless of ethnic background by successive Plateau leaders including Senator Jang has been the tinder for recurring conflicts.

“When you have a segment of society that is permanently classified as “non-indigenes” after decades of stay, you create second-class citizens who are subject to exclusion, dispossession, and violence. That’s the true recipe for a crisis.

“No modern society in the 21st century progresses by shutting out fellow citizens from certificates of belonging. If Jang’s logic were to be applied across board, the Nigerian federation would be threatened. We urge him to use his seniority and experience to champion inclusion, not exclusion. The Fulani are not strangers in Plateau. They are neighbours, farmers, herders, traders and in many cases indigenous people whose history predates the 1967 creation of Plateau State.

We call on the Plateau State government to ignore the retrogressive advice of Senator Jang and to move towards a common residency and indigeneity framework that respects the Nigerian Constitution. No citizen should be barred from state rights—employment, education, or political participation—by virtue of their ethnic surname.

“Senator Jang’s statement is an affront to national unity and a direct affront to the Hausa/Fulani communities who have called Plateau their home for generations.

“The Kautal Pulaaku Fulbe Association will continue to resist all forms of discriminatory policies and will support legal action where necessary. We call on Plateau leaders to learn from history: peace comes from justice, not perpetual exclusion.”

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Former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Simon Lalong, has said it was his desire to foster peace, unity and stability in the party in the state that made him to quit as leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to his successor, Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

Lalong, Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial district in the National Assembly, made the disclosure in a chat with select journalists in Jos on Wednesday, it was reported.

Lalong said his decision to step down from his leadership position was in line with the ideology of cohesion and collective progress of the APC.

Shortly after collecting his nomination form, Lalong announced his plans to re-contest for a second term in the Senate. He emphasised that with Mutfwang’s defection to the APC, there was no reason for him to still hang on to the leadership position of the party.

He said, “The governor said he was coming back to the APC, and without any resistance, as was done in so many states, we accepted him.

“If I was the one that brought the APC to the Plateau, the PDP collapsed and governance was returned to my party. I was the leader and sole commander of the party, together with the likes of the late General Shagaya and others now of blessed memory. APC gave me a platform and I became governor of Plateau State.

“So, with the formation of APC on the Plateau, I feel honoured to be considered as the father of APC in the state and I am honoured that people left their parties and came back to join me in my house.

It is only natural that when you see a guest, the governor, coming to join you with good intentions, you welcome him. We have a very cordial relationship with the governor of the state today.

“I feel honoured and dignified that Plateau state is APC today. So when he came into the APC, one of the things I did to welcome him was to say, ‘I surrender the leadership to you.’ I said that so that he can be comfortable that the house he is entering has been completely handed over to him.

“And if you remember, that day, the governor also responded and told me, ‘Your Excellency, I am surprised that you have just handed this leadership over to me. Don’t think you’re escaping me. You can’t hide from me. ‘We’ll both run this party.’ That was his answer.”

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President Bola Tinubu has restated his administration’s determination to the establishment of state police as part of moves to arrest the deteriorating security problems all over the country.

Tinubu made the assurance on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, during a closed-door meeting with a delegation from Plateau State led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

The meeting was described as a follow-up to the President’s recent visit to the state after the Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos, which claimed several residents’ lives and renewed concerns over insecurity in the North-Central state.

Plateau, it was reported, has suffered repeated attacks in some communities, with loss of lives, displacement of residents and demands for more security at the local level.

He implored the Plateau delegation to revisit and implement the existing white papers that aim to tackle the root causes of violence in the state.

He asked them to study the documents and agree on areas that could be implemented and get back to the Federal Government with unresolved issues.

The President said, “You have that, go through it and agree to implement those white papers. Any naughty issues, bring it back.

For lasting peace to reign in Plateau and other parts of the country, deliberate action, cooperation among leaders and a security arrangement that allows law enforcement to respond more effectively to local threats are needed, Tinubu said.

He said his administration would work with members of the National Assembly to ensure the creation of state police, adding that such a move would help tackle parts of the country’s security problems.

He said the current security situation had brought too much pain to the families and communities but peace was central to national development.

“We are going to work together through the legislators that are here, to create state police,” Tinubu said. I think that when we have state police, some of these problems will be solved in terms of enforcement of law and order.

Peace must be made for us to stop making widows, widowers and orphans. “It is very difficult to develop if you don’t have peace.”

The call for state police is coming back again as governors, lawmakers and other stakeholders are increasingly mounting pressure on the Federal Government, saying Nigeria’s centralised police system is no longer enough to tackle the security challenges in different parts of the country.

Supporters of state police say it will allow governors to respond more quickly to threats within their states, but critics have long expressed concern about potential abuse by political leaders.

But Tinubu said the country must find a workable security structure that will help protect lives, restore peace and support development.

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Troops from Operation Enduring Peace have arrested nine people they think are members of the Berom militia who were responsible for targeted killings. They also found weapons and ammunition during an operation in the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

This happened because of ongoing security concerns related to repeated attacks and cycles of violence in the area.

Zagazola Makama, an expert on counterinsurgency and security in the Lake Chad region, said this in a post on X.

Makama said that the suspects were taken into custody around 1:35 a.m. on April 18, 2026, when troops stationed at Ganawuri responded to reports of suspected criminal activity moving toward the Danwal general area.

He said that soldiers stopped the suspects and arrested them. They had blood on their bodies, which made people think they had been involved in silent killings recently.

He said that the people who were arrested were Gyang Dantoro, Samson Davou, Choji Yakubu, Vincent Adamu, Pam Dalyop, Femi Badung, Jacob Musa, and Choji Chaga. They all lived in Danwal and were said to be of Berom descent.

He said that they found three motorcycles, one pistol, one submachine gun, one locally made revolver rifle, 20 rounds of pistol ammunition, and one locally made rifle, among other things.

Reports say that the arrest happened in Plateau State, where there has been ongoing violence and attacks in Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu, and nearby areas.

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In an effort to strengthen peace and stability throughout the state, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang called an extended meeting of the State Security Council, which included chairmen of the 17 local government areas and chiefs of security agencies.

The conference, which took place at Government House in Jos, examined the security situation during the previous week and looked at proactive ways to stop future breaches while combining continuing peacebuilding efforts.

Commissioner of Police Bassey S. Ewah briefed reporters following the meeting, stating that it gave security chiefs a chance to evaluate recent events and devise a concerted strategy for upholding law and order.

He claims that the state government has changed the current movement curfew in Jos North Local Government Area to run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with security personnel being instructed to enforce it strictly.

“His Excellency called this meeting to review the past week and enable us to plan effectively for the days ahead,” said Ewah. We have been instructed to enforce strict adherence to the curfew, which has been modified with limitations from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

He emphasized that security agents are totally dedicated to maintaining peace and order by stating that limitations on commercial motorcycle operations and controlled tricycle movements remained in place.

Regarding enforcement, the chief of police issued a warning that those who disobey the curfew will be prosecuted.

“Those who are detained for breaking the curfew will face legal action. He said, “Laws are meant to be obeyed; if you break them, you must face the consequences.”

Ewah denied stories of purported protests that were making the rounds on social media, stating that everything in the state is still peaceful.

“The government is not siding with any faith,” he declared. Every choice is made with the goal of maintaining peace. To the best of my knowledge, neither protests nor a breakdown of law and order have occurred.

He emphasized that interagency cooperation was still strong and urged locals to assist security agencies.

He continued, “We work as one team, and I assure citizens that we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure peace.”

The conference, according to Hamisu Anani, chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Plateau State, is essential for resolving persistent security issues, especially in the Jos capital.

According to Anani, local government councils were using customized strategies to deal with threats because of their particular situations.

“Every local government will develop strategies based on its peculiarities,” he said. To successfully combat insecurity throughout the state, we are closely collaborating with security chiefs, examining field reports, and enhancing teamwork.

Deputy Governor Ngo Josephine Piyo, General Gagji Shipi, Special Advisor on Security and Commander of Operation Rainbow, Gbong Gwom Jos, and His Majesty Da Jacob Gyang Buba, Chairman of the Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs, were present at the meeting.

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The Department of State Services (DSS) may have purposefully obstructed efforts to respond to recent gunman attacks on villages, according to reports that the Plateau State Government has rejected.

The accusations are “misleading, erroneous, and aimed at causing disaffection and acrimony” between the state and the DSS, according to a statement released by Secretary to the State Government Samuel Jatau on Tuesday.

According to a statement posted on the Plateau State Government’s Facebook page, the DSS confiscated guns intended for the Plateau Neighbourhood Watch organization, Operation Rainbow, in order to thwart its ability to respond to the violence.
“There is a false narrative on Facebook and other social media platforms that the Department of State Services confiscated weapons that were purchased for the Plateau State Neighborhood Watch organization, Operation Rainbow,” Jatau stated.

The study went on to suggest that the seizure was purposefully carried out in order to delay the agency’s reaction to the recent violent attacks on certain communities inside states. We want to make it very evident that this is not at all the case.

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No action has ever been taken to thwart government attempts to combat insecurity in Plateau State by the Department of State Services, even if it was done in error.

He underlined that efforts to save lives and restore calm to the Plateau had been the DSS’s greatest assistance.

The Department, on the other hand, has been a very trustworthy partner and has supported the state in reducing insecurity in a number of ways.

The public is consequently encouraged to disregard those stories since they are false, deceptive, and intended to sow discord and disenchantment between the state government and the Department of State Services.

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