Plateau governor advocates regional security strategy for North-Central Nigeria

Speaking at the 2026 North-Central Security Summit in Makurdi, Benue State, Governor Mutfwang emphasized that the current security situation requires a united, intelligence-driven approach, moving beyond isolated state responses. He challenged the narrative that violence is limited to farmer-herder clashes, describing the attacks as an organized threat and an invasion targeting vulnerable populations and threatening national sovereignty. The governor noted that many displaced persons in Plateau State cannot return home due to a lack of secure conditions.

He urged leaders to confront insecurity with honesty and urgency, highlighting its impact on poverty and development. Mutfwang also called for security agencies to change tactics, moving beyond reactionary responses to trace attackers to their sources and routes. He raised concerns about infiltration routes into Plateau State, exploited through porous borders and difficult-to-monitor corridors connecting the North-West, Taraba, and Nasarawa states.

He advocated for strengthened intelligence gathering, inter-state cooperation, and coordinated operations to disrupt these routes and dislodge criminal elements. The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa retd., stated that the summit aimed to gather direct input from the region's residents and develop practical approa