Amid renewed violence in Plateau State, President Bola Tinubu has promised firm action against sponsors and perpetrators, saying the cycle of bloodshed must end.
He gave the assurance on Tuesday night at the Presidential Villa during a high-level meeting with Plateau stakeholders led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang, alongsidey all living former governors of the state.
According to visuals released by the State House media office on Wednesday, Tinubu said the Federal Government would not hesitate to act once those responsible for instigating or financing the violence are identified.
“If you identify and you know the name of troublemakers, agents or provocateurs who want to continue killing or instigate killing, let us know.
“We will use the instrument of office to deal with them”, the President said.
He stressed that security agencies would move against such individuals based on credible intelligence, insisting that the prolonged violence in the state must be brought to an end.
Tinubu also endorsed a newly formed peace initiative involving former governors of Plateau State, directing them to work together as a single body to review existing white papers on past conflicts and produce unified recommendations for implementation.
“Call one another … take that white paper, go through it among yourselves and agree to implement it”, he said.
“If the ones you have chosen before now are not working, you have to mix and amend membership… consider this group as the committee until we find a lasting solution”.
He further directed that inactive or ineffective peace committees be restructured or replaced, adding that the new arrangement should serve as the central platform for peacebuilding efforts in the state.
On broader reforms, Tinubu renewed his call for the establishment of state police, describing it as a critical step toward addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
“Through the legislators who are here, we are going to work together to establish state police on a national scale. I believe that once we have a state police, enforcement of laws will take care of some of these problems for us.
“We must stop creating widows, widowers and orphans. There must be peace”, he added.
The President also urged greater inclusion of non-indigenes in governance structures in Plateau State as part of confidence-building measures, adding that the Federal Government would support public enlightenment campaigns against discrimination and violence.
Governor Mutfwang described the meeting as historic, noting that it was the first time all living former governors of Plateau State had been brought together in one forum.
“This is the first time it is happening, and I believe that is a step we can build upon”, he said.
He added that political divisions in the state had been reduced, creating room for stronger unity and cooperation among stakeholders.
The meeting followed earlier engagements between Tinubu and Plateau stakeholders, including a visit to Jos after the Palm Sunday killings in Angwan Rukuba that left dozens dead.
