Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, issued a dire warning on Saturday, expressing concern that if immediate action is not taken to halt the persistent violence claiming lives in the state, Nigeria could descend into a situation reminiscent of Somalia. The Governor sounded the alarm during a discussion with the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, in Jos.
The warning comes in the wake of a tragic incident on Christmas Eve, where over 100 people in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas were reportedly massacred by unidentified gunmen. Governor Mutfwang lamented the prolonged cycle of violence in the state, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the issue to prevent a descent into lawlessness.
“It is unfortunate that this cycle has continued for years. We are praying that, as a nation, we will get it right so that we toe the path of justice and don’t allow people to slip into self-help because once we allow the people to go into self-help, we will become another Somalia,” stated the Governor.
Governor Mutfwang also highlighted the economic implications of the insecurity, calling for an investigation into the financiers of the violence and the source of the hundreds of AK-47 rifles used. “There is an economy that has been built around this insecurity. We need to know who the financiers are and who paid for the hundreds of AK-47 rifles. Where did they get them from?” he questioned.
Turning his attention to national leadership, the Governor advocated for a collective effort to address the root causes of the problems. Speaking about President Tinubu, he emphasized the need for a mass of critical leaders to rally around him, enabling an expanded scope of understanding and effective solutions to the ongoing challenges.
“What we need is a mass of critical leaders to rally round him to be able to expand his scope so that he understands the root and immediate causes of these problems and to proffer solutions,” Governor Mutfwang asserted, underlining the importance of a concerted approach in tackling the complex issues facing the nation.