JOS — The House of Representatives on Tuesday raised fresh alarm over the scale of devastation caused by years of violence in Plateau State, revealing that over 18,000 houses have been destroyed and about 80,000 persons displaced.
The disclosure came as federal and Plateau State leaders, alongside key stakeholders, met in Jos for a high-level dialogue aimed at finding lasting solutions to the protracted security crisis in the state.
Speaking at the one-day multi-stakeholder conference organised by the House Ad-hoc Committee on Security Challenges in Plateau State and Beyond, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, said the situation in the state remains dire.
Tajudeen, who was represented by Hon. John Dafaan, member representing Shendam, Mikang and Qua’an Pan Federal Constituency, said Plateau has witnessed sustained violence since 2001, with thousands killed in attacks across several local government areas.
He listed Jos North, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South among the worst-hit areas, adding that recent attacks between December 2023 and April 2024 further worsened the situation.
He specifically recalled the Christmas Eve attacks across 17 communities, which left over 200 persons dead.
According to him, “Over 18,000 houses, places of worship and farmlands have been destroyed, while about 400 communities have been dislocated, leaving some 80,000 internally displaced persons.”
The Speaker warned against attributing the crisis to simplistic causes, noting that the violence is driven by a mix of historical grievances, land disputes, economic marginalisation, climate-related pressures and the activities of criminal elements.
He assured that the 10th House of Representatives would pursue legislative measures to address the crisis, including reviewing laws on security, land use and conflict resolution.
Tajudeen also said the National Assembly would prioritise funding in the 2026 supplementary and 2027 budgets for the reconstruction of affected communities, establishment of trauma centres and deployment of modern security infrastructure.
He called for a shift from reactive to proactive security strategies through improved intelligence gathering, early warning systems, community policing and decisive action to end impunity.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, represented by his deputy, Mrs. Josephine Piyo, said his administration had taken steps to strengthen security, including revamping Operation Rainbow and deploying technology-driven surveillance systems.
He said over 300 operational vehicles belonging to security agencies had been refurbished to improve response capacity, while non-kinetic measures such as dialogue and reconciliation were being prioritised.
Despite these efforts, the governor admitted that attacks still persist in some rural communities, stressing the need for collective action and inclusive solutions.
Earlier, Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. (Dr.) Wale Hammed, said the dialogue was convened to address growing insecurity in Plateau and chart a sustainable path to peace.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising Plateau through security deployments and humanitarian interventions.
Hammed, however, stressed that “peace cannot be achieved by guns alone,” calling for the involvement of traditional rulers, religious leaders, women, youth and communities in peacebuilding efforts.
He assured that the House would not abandon the process, adding that outcomes of the dialogue would be backed by legislation and sustained oversight.
The conference, themed “Restoring Stability and Unity: A Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Security in Plateau State and Beyond,” brought together stakeholders from across the country.
Our correspondent reports Participants called for frank discussions and practical solutions, warning against a repeat of past conferences whose recommendations were never implemented.
They expressed optimism that the current collaboration between the Presidency, National Assembly and Plateau State Government would translate into lasting peace in the state.