Bandits Have Taken Over 64 Communities in Plateau — Governor Muftwang

Bandits have reportedly taken control of 64 communities across Plateau State, according to Governor Caleb Muftwang. In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Muftwang highlighted the alarming situation, noting that these communities, which had previously been attacked in 2023, had managed to rebuild themselves only to face renewed violence.

The governor mentioned the Ruwi community, which had lost 17 people in a 2023 attack but had shown resilience by rebuilding. However, recent attacks have proven more deadly, with over 50 individuals killed within a week in raids by suspected herdsmen. These attacks also resulted in the destruction of over 300 houses across five communities.

In response to the crisis, the Plateau State government, led by the Secretary to the State Government, Samuel Jatau, visited some of the affected areas to assess the damage and distribute relief materials to victims.

Governor Muftwang emphasized that this ongoing violence is not a new phenomenon for the state, stating that similar incidents have been occurring for over a decade without significant national attention. He pointed out that between the local governments of Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom, at least 64 communities have been overtaken by bandits. The governor revealed that these areas have been renamed, with the displaced populations pushed out and bandits now occupying the land.