Youths under the Coalition of Northern Zone Ethnic Nationalities and the Plateau Youth Coalition staged a protest on Wednesday, March 25, at the Plateau State Government House in Jos, calling for urgent measures to address rising insecurity across the state.
The demonstrators expressed alarm at the growing wave of attacks, noting that residents now live in constant fear while even security personnel have become targets.
Ezekiel Bini, President of the Plateau Youth Coalition, condemned the recent killing of security officers in Kanam Local Government Area, warning that the civilian population faces increasing danger.
“If security agents who are supposed to protect us can be ambushed and killed, then what about us civilians? Our lives are now at the mercy of God,” Bini said.
Dalyop Mwantiri, President of the Berom Youth Movement, alleged that armed groups displaced from other troubled areas are moving into Plateau, targeting both Christians and Muslims.
He also called on the international community to intervene militarily to curb the attacks.
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The protesters handed a formal list of demands to state officials, urging Governor Caleb Mutfwang to escalate their concerns to President Bola Tinubu for immediate intervention.
Ngo Esther Banga, President of the Berom Women Development Association, spoke on behalf of women in the state, highlighting the strain the violence has placed on families.
“We cannot stay freely in our homes or look after our children,” she said.
The group expressed frustration that the governor was unavailable to receive them, noting that he, his deputy, and the Secretary to the State Government were attending an official function. They pledged to return on Monday to present their grievances directly to him.
Plateau State has long grappled with recurring violence, often linked to armed groups and communal conflicts. The attacks have caused loss of life, displacement, and property destruction in many communities.
Community leaders and youth groups continue to call for stronger security measures, including the potential establishment of state police, to safeguard residents and restore stability in the region.