President Bola Tinubu has issued a forceful condemnation of the latest wave of violence in Plateau State, describing the killings of more than 40 people as a “tragedy” that must not be allowed to continue.
In an statement released on Monday, the President called for urgent action to break what he termed the “cycle of retaliatory attacks” that have destabilised the region for decades.
Expressing “profound sorrow” over the bloodshed, President Tinubu directed security agencies to investigate the attacks and apprehend those responsible.
“I have instructed security agencies to thoroughly investigate this crisis and identify those responsible for orchestrating these violent acts,” he said. “We cannot allow this devastation and the tit-for-tat attacks to continue. Enough is enough.”
The President’s remarks come amid escalating tensions between communities in Plateau, where long-standing ethnic and religious divisions have repeatedly erupted into deadly clashes.
While emphasising the need for law enforcement to target perpetrators, Tinubu stressed that lasting peace would require political intervention. He urged Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang to take decisive steps to resolve the underlying grievances driving the conflict.
“Beyond dealing with the criminal elements of these incessant killings, the political leadership in Plateau State… must address the root cause of this age-long problem,” Tinubu said. “These problems have been with us for more than two decades. We can no longer ignore the underlying issues.”
The President revealed that he had previously discussed potential solutions with Governor Mutfwang and reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to supporting dialogue and social cohesion efforts.
Tinubu also called on community, religious, and political leaders to foster reconciliation, urging Plateau residents to embrace unity over division.
“The ongoing violence between communities in Plateau State, rooted in misunderstandings between different ethnic and religious groups, must cease,” he said. “It is time to tackle (these issues)fairly and find a lasting solution.”
Plateau State has endured recurring clashes between farming and herding communities, often framed along ethnic and religious lines. Despite past peace initiatives, retaliatory violence has persisted, with hundreds killed in recent years.
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