Plateau killings: Ex-gov Dariye submits peace report to Mutfwang

Former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye, on Monday submitted a two-volume peace and security report to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, with recommendations centred on the protection of vulnerable communities, recovery of displaced persons, and institutional reforms aimed at ending the cycle of violence in the state.

The report comes amid a renewed wave of deadly attacks on rural communities across Plateau in the first half of 2026, which left scores dead, thousands displaced, and farmlands destroyed.

The escalation prompted Mutfwang to lead a high-powered Plateau delegation to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in April 2026 to seek urgent Federal Government intervention.

Following that engagement, Tinubu directed the state to “reignite and reinvigorate the search for lasting peace,” leading to the constitution of the strategic committee headed by Senator Dariye.

The committee was mandated to “harmonise issues raised during the Plateau State delegation’s visit to President Tinubu, develop a comprehensive engagement agenda with the Presidency, identify priority areas requiring Federal Government intervention, and recommend sustainable measures to promote peace, security, social cohesion, and development.”

Presenting the report to Governor Mutfwang at the Rayfield Government House in Jos on Monday, Senator Dariye said the assignment went beyond administration and touched “directly on the protection of lives, the safety of communities, and the pursuit of enduring peace across the state.”

According to him, the committee produced “a comprehensive two-volume report containing detailed analyses, key findings, implementation frameworks, and practical recommendations for government action.”

“The central message of this report is that the peace and security challenges facing Plateau State are multidimensional, historical, layered, and dynamic. Consequently, the increasing insecurity in the state cannot be attributed to a single factor,” he said.

The committee observed that Plateau already has “numerous reports, policy documents, gazettes, peace initiatives, and recommendations,” but implementation has failed due to “inadequate implementation, weak institutional support, inconsistent follow-up, personnel discontinuity, and insufficient accountability.”

Among its key recommendations, the report calls for “a comprehensive stabilization and recovery framework that extends beyond military responses to include the protection of vulnerable communities, support for internally displaced persons, reconstruction of affected settlements, livelihood restoration, trauma healing, youth empowerment, women’s participation, interfaith collaboration, traditional conflict mediation, and education.”

“Plateau State must be deliberate in telling its own story, correcting distorted narratives, showcasing government efforts, and transforming its image from one defined by conflict and crisis to one anchored on peace, resilience, justice, hospitality, investment, tourism, and opportunity,” he said.

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Governor Mutfwang described the document as a strategic roadmap that would guide informed dialogue and practical interventions aimed at addressing the complex security and socio-political challenges confronting Plateau State.

He reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to building lasting peace through inclusive dialogue, institutional reforms, and strengthened collaboration with the Federal Government.

The governor disclosed that President Tinubu demonstrated genuine concern for Plateau State during the delegation’s visit, noting that the President specifically directed the state to intensify efforts toward restoring enduring peace.

“When we visited Mr. President, it was evident that he has a genuine concern for Plateau State. That is why he gave us clear marching orders to reignite and reinvigorate the search for lasting peace on the Plateau,” the governor stated.

The governor explained that widespread misrepresentation of the purpose of the presidential engagement in some quarters necessitated the establishment of the committee to provide factual clarity and foster a common understanding of the issues affecting the state.

“The clarity provided by this committee,” he noted, “will serve as a solid foundation for the critical conversations we must continue to have as a people.”

Governor Mutfwang commended traditional rulers, political leaders, religious leaders, and community stakeholders across ethnic and religious divides for sustaining dialogue in an atmosphere of mutual respect rather than confrontation, describing their collective commitment as indispensable to preserving Plateau’s social fabric.

In a further demonstration of his administration’s commitment to inclusiveness, the governor announced that the report would be presented to a broader Plateau stakeholders’ assembly to ensure wider participation and ownership of the peace-building process.

“Those who accompanied us to the Presidential Villa do not represent the entirety of Plateau. Many who were unable to make the trip also have valuable perspectives that deserve to be heard. We must therefore create an enabling environment where every interest group has a voice at the discussion table,” he emphasized.

“We will discover that these issues are not new. We must sustain the conversation and continue working together to develop better and more enduring solutions for the future,” the governor said.