Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has described the recent attack on Mushere community in Bokkos Local Government Area as a painful setback and a […]

Mutfwang (left) and Dankwambo (right)

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has described the recent attack on Mushere community in Bokkos Local Government Area as a painful setback and a collective failure of intelligence gathering, following the incident that claimed 25 lives and left several others injured.

The governor spoke at the Government House in Jos while receiving the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 4, AIG Morris Dankwambo, who paid him a courtesy visit on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to assess the situation and review security arrangements in the affected communities.

Mutfwang recalled the numerous security interventions his administration had deployed to secure Mushere and other vulnerable communities in Bokkos after previous attacks.

“Late last year into early this year, the Mushere community came under a very violent siege, and we battled through it. After much effort, we were able to safeguard the community and much of Bokkos Local Government Area,” the governor said.

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He explained that military personnel, police operatives, and other security assets had been strategically deployed to stabilise the area, making the latest attack particularly devastating.

“This breach came to us as a terrible setback. Sometimes, as a leader, when the systems and structures you put in place do not deliver results, people only remember the failures and not what you have prevented.

“This attack is one very sharp spear that pierces through my heart, knowing all that we had put in place, and yet these criminals were able to breach the system,” Mutfwang lamented.

According to the governor, preliminary findings suggest that the attack was made possible by a complete absence of intelligence from all quarters.

“It was carried out not in the inaccessible part of Mushere but in the accessible part. From all the preliminary investigations at my disposal, it is a collective failure. The community, the security forces—nobody had intelligence about this attack. When intelligence fails, everyone is put at risk, and that is what happened,” he added.

Mutfwang further disclosed that he had convened a meeting of security chiefs to review existing strategies and identify areas requiring improvement, stressing that security agencies were already pursuing credible leads that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.

“We are in hot pursuit of those behind this wicked criminality, and we have some very useful leads. We are taking deliberate steps to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book. We cannot keep doing the same things and expect better results; we must continuously review our strategies,” he said.

The governor also appealed to residents to support security efforts by providing timely information, noting that intelligence remains critical to preventing future attacks.

“Security involves everyone. If we do not have intelligence, there is no magic we can do. We all must play our part,” he said.

Earlier, AIG Dankwambo said he was in Plateau State on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the attack and evaluate its impact on affected communities.

“I am here today on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to assess the unfortunate incident in Bokkos Local Government Area, identify the extent of damages, and determine the actual number of persons killed and injured,” he said.

The AIG extended condolences to families who lost loved ones in the attack, describing the incident as barbaric and unacceptable.

“The loss of innocent lives is painful and affects not only the immediate families but the entire community and the state at large.

“This act by these criminals is barbaric, wicked, and completely unacceptable. No society can thrive when individuals or groups choose violence as a means of achieving their objectives,” he stated.

Dankwambo assured residents that the police and other security agencies would leave no stone unturned in tracking down those responsible.

He added that the visit would also enable security agencies to review existing operational plans, identify gaps, and strengthen measures aimed at preventing future attacks.

The latest attack on the Mushere community has once again heightened concerns over recurring violence in parts of Plateau State, even as security agencies intensify efforts to restore confidence and bring the perpetrators to justice.