Plateau State governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has decried the rising insecurity in the state, blaming it on deliberate economic sabotage and organised land grabbing aimed at impoverishing farming communities and keeping the populace in perpetual poverty.
Governor Mutfwang emphasised that insecurity in the state was not a random crisis but part of a “deliberate attempt” to displace communities and disrupt agricultural activities.
“I have challenged the traditional narrative of farmers-herders clash. Since coming on board, I’ve found that it’s nothing but trash. It’s a facade to continue with organised criminality to ensure that people do not cultivate their farms,” Mutfwang said during a media chat on Thursday.
The governor linked the surge in violence to a broader plan to cripple Plateau’s agricultural economy. Citing Mangu, a major food-producing area in the state and home to one of the biggest markets in West Africa, Mutfwang lamented that insecurity tends to spike at the onset of the farming season — a pattern he described as “no coincidence.”
Governor Mutfwang reiterated his administration’s call for the establishment of state police, stating that the scale and coordination of the attacks require localised intelligence and community-focused security infrastructure.
“This is a very organised criminality. People try to claim it’s about cattle rustling, but you don’t wipe out an entire village because three cows were stolen,” he said.
He also emphasised that the national security architecture must evolve to allow for greater responsiveness and intelligence gathering at the grassroots level. “We need the power to protect our people. Security must be community-based, and that is only possible through state policing,” the governor said.
Central to Mutfwang’s development agenda is agriculture, which he said remains Plateau State’s God-given advantage. He unveiled plans to transform the sector, starting with potato farming, which he intends to reposition as a world-class export commodity.
“90 per cent of what we used to call Irish potatoes are produced here. We have renamed it ‘Plateau Potatoes’ because I think we deserve exclusive rights,” he said.
The governor disclosed that Plateau has entered discussions with Agrico, a Dutch seed multiplier, to introduce high-yield potato breeds. He also announced that Plateau would host the African Potato Conference in 2028, following its last edition in Uganda — a development he described as a mark of international recognition.
Mutfwang lamented that most five-star hotels in Nigeria import their potatoes from South Africa due to quality standards. He attributed this to a lack of standardised production, poor storage and limited traceability — issues he vowed to address through systemic reforms.
“We are laying a solid foundation for the next three to five years. With the right seeds and infrastructure, we’ll meet international standards,” he said.
The governor also highlighted efforts to build trust across religious and ethnic lines, stressing that inclusion, justice and fairness are central pillars of his administration.
“I beat my chest that I have done more than any governor since 1999 to reach out to the Muslim community. Today, we have a Muslim commissioner holding one of the most strategic portfolios,” Mutfwang said.
He revealed that deliberate efforts have been made to reverse historical marginalisation, noting that the administration’s inclusive policies are fostering unity and public trust. Recent visits by Muslim groups during Christian festivities, he said, signal a growing faith in government.
“These may look intangible, but they form the bedrock for development. Without citizen belief and participation, you cannot drive transformation,” he added.
Mutfwang also underscored the importance of communication and mutual understanding among communities, especially in discussions around herding and land ownership.
He said many Fulani settlers have lived peacefully on the Plateau for generations and must not be generalised as perpetrators of violence.
“Some of them have become fantastic farmers. And herding is not exclusive to the Fulani. Many were actually hired by indigents to look after cows,” he said.
Addressing concerns about internally displaced persons (IDPs), the governor acknowledged that insecurity had rendered many citizens homeless. He assured journalists that plans were underway to provide lasting support and reintegration for affected persons.
Although he did not elaborate on the specifics, he reaffirmed his commitment to creating an environment where displaced communities could safely return and rebuild their homes for a better livelihood.
On infrastructural development, Governor Mutfwang noted that his administration has executed several road projects across the state, even in communities previously overlooked.
“One of the roads we commissioned today, I didn’t even know we had done it. That’s because we have competent people handling these projects,” he said.
He cited the example of a road leading to Mama Iliabo community in Jos, where residents expressed joy and gratitude — a reaction he described as the ultimate motivation for any leader.
On education, Mutfwang criticised the quality of leadership he met in state-owned institutions, saying he had to make tough but necessary changes to improve standards. He emphasised merit over sentiments in appointments, rejecting past tendencies toward nepotism.
“We’re putting round pegs in round holes. That’s how we build capacity and break traditional barriers,” he said.
He also disclosed that his administration had discovered irregularities in recruitments made by the previous government, including 600 redundant staff on the payroll of the State House of Assembly, which has only 24 members.
“There are no offices for them, yet they are on salary. We are working to rationalise and ensure transparency in the civil service,” Mutfwang added.
While refraining from commenting on the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last eight years, Mutfwang maintained that his commitment to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) remained firm.
“I have no regrets being in the PDP. I believe in our ideology and I’m focused on delivering for the people,” he said.
The governor also touched on inter-state cooperation and regional dialogue, noting that recent meetings with fellow northern governors had exposed him to the realities in other states — which he said helped him appreciate Plateau’s relative position despite negative reports.
“I get a larger share of the bad press, but that’s a discussion for another day. There are undertones to it,” he remarked.
(Leadership)
