The Plateau State Government has called for urgent and collaborative action to address the insecurity challenges, particularly in the North-central region.
The government made the call during a Senate Public Hearing held on Thursday in Jos.
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The state was represented by Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo, standing in for Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
In her address, Mrs Piyo highlighted the devastating impact of insecurity on communities in Plateau State, noting cycles of violence, displacement, destruction of farmlands, and the erosion of social cohesion.
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She emphasized that these challenges, while acute in Plateau, are part of a broader national crisis requiring coordinated solutions.
“The reality before us is stark. Insecurity has crippled communities, claimed innocent lives, disrupted livelihoods, and slowed development, especially in the North Central region,” Mrs Piyo said.
The deputy governor commended the Senate for its resolution on May 6, 2025, to convene an all-inclusive National Security Summit, describing it as a “significant step” toward finding sustainable solutions to the nation’s security challenges.
She praised the Senate Committee for adopting a bottom-up approach by engaging local stakeholders, experts, and community actors in each geopolitical zone to craft strategies grounded in local realities.
Mrs Piyo outlined Plateau State’s multi-layered strategies to restore peace, including revitalizing community-based early warning and response mechanisms, strengthening collaboration with security agencies, and promoting justice, fairness, and inclusiveness.
She stressed the importance of community involvement in security efforts, stating, “Security agencies must work more closely with communities, vigilante structures, and traditional institutions. The people know the terrain; their involvement is invaluable.”
The deputy governor also urged the removal of statutory ambiguities to facilitate seamless collaboration among security agencies and local actors.
She called on Nigerians to rise above political, regional, ethnic, and religious differences in order to reclaim peace, livelihoods, and dignity lost to insecurity.
“This Summit represents an opportunity, perhaps one of the most important in recent years, to chart a new direction,” Mrs Piyo added.
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The hearing is part of the Senate’s efforts to develop a national strategy for security, beginning with interactive sessions in each geopolitical zone to harvest locally informed solutions.
Plateau State reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the federal government, the National Assembly, security agencies, and other stakeholders to dismantle insecurity and restore lasting peace.
“Once again, I thank the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee for this initiative and for choosing the North-central as a critical starting point in this national conversation,” Mrs Piyo concluded.
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