Nigeria: Mutfwang Pushes for Regional Strategy to Tackle Insecurity

Caleb Mutfwang's Call for Unity

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has issued a strong appeal for a unified and coordinated regional security strategy to address the escalating insecurity plaguing the North Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Speaking at the 2026 North Central Security Summit in Makurdi, Benue State, Mutfwang articulated that the current spate of attacks on communities is not merely a series of isolated incidents but a significant threat to Nigeria's territorial integrity and sovereignty. He stressed the imperative for states within the region to transcend their individualistic responses and embrace a collective, intelligence-driven approach to effectively counter the pervasive security crisis.

Governor Mutfwang challenged the conventional narrative that often categorizes the violence as simple farmer-herder clashes. He posited that the pattern, scale, and deliberate targeting of vulnerable populations and their displacement from ancestral homes indicate a more organized and sinister threat. This perspective underscores the urgency and decisiveness required from leadership. He further highlighted the plight of displaced persons in Plateau State, many of whom remain unable to return due to the absence of established security conditions conducive to their safe and sustainable resettlement. The governor's remarks underscore the devastating consequences of insecurity on poverty, economic deprivation, food production, and overall development, calling for honesty, courage, and urgency from leaders.

Ministry of Defence's Role

The 2026 North Central Security Summit, organized by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, served as a platform for dialogue between government, security stakeholders, and the affected communities. Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), emphasized that the summit's primary objective was to gather firsthand accounts of the security threats from the people directly experiencing them. This direct engagement aims to foster a common understanding and collaboratively develop practical, actionable approaches to mitigate the security challenges in the North Central region.

General Musa reiterated that security is a shared responsibility and acknowledged the resilience of the region's inhabitants amidst persistent adversities. He underscored the critical need to cultivate a secure environment that not only allows farmers to access their farmlands and communities safely but also facilitates the thriving of other economic activities. The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government's unwavering commitment to bolstering national security and actively addressing the factors that undermine peace, livelihoods, and the country's overall development trajectory. The presence of other dignitaries, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Governors from Benue and Nasarawa states, signaled the high-level attention being paid to the region's security concerns.

Exploiting Porous Borders

Governor Mutfwang raised significant concerns regarding the exploitation of porous borders and difficult-to-monitor corridors by armed attackers. He specifically noted the movement of these elements into Plateau State from parts of the North-West, as well as through routes connecting to Taraba and Nasarawa states. This highlights a critical vulnerability in the regional security architecture, where criminal elements can traverse territorial boundaries with relative ease, posing a continuous threat to communities. The governor's call for improved intelligence gathering, enhanced inter-state cooperation, and coordinated operations among security agencies is aimed at identifying and effectively blocking these routes used by insurgents and other criminal groups.

Furthermore, Mutfwang urged security agencies to intensify their efforts to dislodge these criminal elements from their established hideouts and prevent them from consolidating their presence within communities. This proactive stance is crucial to disrupting their operational capabilities and preventing the normalization of their activities. The governor's advocacy for closer collaboration extends beyond the North Central states to include military formations, the police, other security agencies, and crucially, neighboring states and regions. Such a comprehensive, multi-jurisdictional approach is deemed essential to halting the unhindered movement of armed groups across territorial boundaries and restoring a semblance of order and safety to the affected areas.