Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has revealed that between 2001 and May 2025, bandits have attacked over 420 communities in the state, claiming nearly 12,000 lives and destroying countless livelihoods.

Speaking through his deputy, Ngo Josephine Piyo, at a Senate security hearing in Jos, the governor said evidence indicates these attacks were deliberate and coordinated, driven by economic, territorial, religious, and political motives.

He added that the attacks follow a recurring pattern of destabilisation, requiring a multidimensional response.

Governor Mutfwang noted that displaced communities suffer loss of livelihoods and cultural heritage, while criminal groups exploit mining sites to finance their operations.

Despite government attempts to curb illegal mining through bans, the challenges persist due to links with organised crime.

Senator Abba Moro, Chairman of the Senate Public Hearing on National Security, stated that the engagement seeks diverse perspectives on Nigeria’s complex security challenges, including insurgency, militancy, and banditry.

He emphasised that national security is a shared responsibility, requiring both community vigilance and state support for local security initiatives.

The summit, Moro said, aims to inform a more comprehensive national security policy to safeguard lives and property across the country. (Daily Trust, but headline rejigged)