ABUJA — The Chairman of the Plateau State Special Fact-Finding Committee, Gen. Rogers Nicholas (retd.), has urged governments at all levels to enforce the state’s anti-land grabbing law and adopt community-based security reforms to tackle the long-standing violence in Plateau State.
Speaking in Abuja during a special security conference organised by the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Plateau Security, Nicholas shared insights from his tenure as Commander of Operation Safe Haven and presented recommendations drawn from extensive consultations.
He described the Plateau crisis as a complex mix of historical grievances, ethnic tensions, land disputes, open grazing conflicts, and youth unemployment, compounded by illegal mining and a weak justice system.
“One of the key drivers of this crisis is the cycle of reprisal attacks — farmer-herder clashes that quickly escalate into community-wide violence,” he said.
Nicholas noted that during his time in charge, he focused on trust-building initiatives, including town hall meetings and community-based compensation systems for incidents like cattle rustling and crop destruction. However, he lamented that these measures were discontinued after his tenure, leading to renewed unrest.
Presenting the committee’s major recommendations, Nicholas proposed the creation of Peace and Security Committees in every community, headed by traditional rulers and inclusive of all ethnic and religious groups. He also called for the strict enforcement and review of the Plateau State Anti-Land Grabbing Law (2022) and the establishment of designated grazing and ranching areas.
Other proposals included the formation of an Interstate Joint Security Task Force involving Kaduna, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Bauchi states, and the integration of local vigilante groups into formal structures like Operation Rainbow.
In his remarks, Hon. Wale Ahmed (Agege), Chairman of the House Ad Hoc Committee, said the National Assembly was committed to identifying and addressing the root causes of Plateau’s violence.
“These opportunities have been given to us by the House to determine the causes of the perpetual cycle of violence in Plateau State and identify practical ways forward,” Ahmed said.
He revealed that the committee had reached out to 237 institutions and individuals across the state, receiving 47 responses, including from the Plateau State House of Assembly, CAN, Muslim Youth Foundation, University of Jos, Operation Rainbow, and Miyetti Allah.
Ahmed added that the committee also met with former Governor Joshua Dariye to draw from his experience managing past crises.
He concluded that the panel would continue consultations with civil society, traditional rulers, and security agencies to ensure the final report reflects the collective will of the Plateau people.
