The National Assembl has reaffirmed its commitment towards ending the protracted insecurity in Plateau State through legislative action and inclusive dialogue.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, and Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee on Security Challenges in Plateau State, Hon. (Dr.) Wale Hammed disclosed this at a one-day special dialogue and security conference held at Crispan Suites and Event Centre, Jos.
The conference with a themed “Restoring Stability and Unity: A Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Security in Plateau State and Beyond” brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and members of the public.
Speaker Tajudeen, while declaring the conference open, described the conference as a “national imperative,” noting that Plateau State has suffered sustained violence since 2001, with thousands of lives lost, properties destroyed, and communities displaced.
He cited recent waves of attacks between December 2023 and April 2024 including the Christmas Eve killings across several communities, as evidence of the urgent need for decisive and coordinated action.
“The crisis is often mischaracterised as purely communal or ethno-religious, whereas it is driven by a complex mix of historical grievances, land disputes, economic marginalisation, and the activities of criminal elements,” he said.
The Speaker advocated proactive measures such as community policing, early warning systems, and intelligence-driven interventions, while reiterating support for the establishment of state police in line with Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda.
Tajudeen emphasized that the 10th House of Representatives has strengthened oversight of security agencies, increased funding for intelligence and operations, and advanced reforms to Nigeria’s counter-terrorism framework.
He commended Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang for demonstrating leadership in tackling the crisis, particularly through reforms in land governance and the promotion of inclusive policies.
The Speaker also assured that the National Assembly would prioritize Plateau in upcoming budgets, including provisions for the reconstruction of destroyed communities, the resettlement of internally displaced persons, and the development of modern security infrastructure.
He pledged that the House would review existing laws on security, land management, and justice delivery, and introduce new legislation where necessary to address gaps.
On his part, Hon. Wale Hammed said the ad-hoc committee was constituted on May 14, 2025, in response to the worsening security situation in Plateau, stressing that “Plateau can no longer wait.”
“We are here to confront this crisis with courage, clarity, and collective resolve. Enough is enough,” Hammed declared.
Hammed commended President Tinubu for prioritizing Plateau through special security deployments and humanitarian interventions, adding that the synergy between the executive and legislature has accelerated responses to insecurity.
He stressed that peace cannot be achieved through military means alone, calling for inclusive participation from all stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, women, youth, and victims of violence.
“Inclusion is not charity; it is a strategy. When people are heard, they heal. When they heal, they forgive. When they forgive, they rebuild,” he said.
Both leaders underscored the need to address the root causes of the crisis, including land ownership disputes, poverty, unemployment, and weak justice systems.
They called for strengthened interfaith and inter-community dialogue, as well as measures to curb hate speech and misinformation, which they said have contributed to rising tensions.
Hammed, assured residents that the committee would sustain engagement beyond the conference and ensure implementation of recommendations.
He stressed that the committee is open to receiving sensitive information through confidential channels, including closed-door sessions, to aid its work.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
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