In a swift and strategic response to the resurgence of deadly attacks in Plateau State, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Kwazhi Dali Yakubu, to proceed to the state and spearhead a robust security intervention aimed at halting the bloodshed and restoring peace.
Since March 28, 2025, multiple communities in Bokkos Local Government Area and its environs have come under coordinated attacks reportedly carried out by suspected armed herdsmen. The week-long violence has resulted in the deaths of over 50 people and the destruction of more than 300 homes, leaving thousands displaced and traumatized.
According to a statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the IGP’s directive comes with the immediate deployment of a comprehensive array of police tactical assets to Plateau. These include elite units from the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad (SIS), Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), surveillance helicopters, and modern drone technology for aerial monitoring and precision response.
The IGP emphasized that the goal of this operation is not only to contain the current threat but also to prevent future attacks by maintaining a strong, sustained presence in the affected communities. DIG Yakubu, a seasoned security strategist, has been mandated to coordinate all field operations and liaise with state authorities to ensure seamless collaboration.
“These deployments are a clear signal of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to the protection of lives and property and a warning to those orchestrating violence that they will be tracked, apprehended, and made to face the full wrath of the law,” the statement read.
The renewed wave of violence has sparked outrage across the state, with Governor Caleb Muftwang describing the situation as a humanitarian disaster. Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, the governor lamented that over 64 communities in the state are currently under the grip of armed bandits.
“These communities that have been recently attacked were part of those that survived similar onslaughts in 2023. They rebuilt themselves with hope and resilience, only to be struck again by mindless violence. It’s heartbreaking,” Muftwang said.
Local leaders and civil society groups have called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the troubled areas, citing a pattern of repeated attacks that have overwhelmed local security capacities.
As security forces begin their operations under DIG Yakubu’s command, residents remain hopeful that this intervention will not be another short-lived deployment but a turning point in the state’s long struggle for lasting peace and security.