According to Dr. Yilwatda, Shettima’s visit is a direct mandate from President Bola Tinubu, who is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in the state.
Abuja, Nigeria – Vice President Kashim Shettima is scheduled to visit Plateau State on Monday following a series of deadly attacks that have left scores dead and many displaced in the Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas over the past two weeks.
The announcement was made on Saturday by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, during a joint visit to affected communities in Bassa alongside the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru.
According to Dr. Yilwatda, Shettima’s visit is a direct mandate from President Bola Tinubu, who is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in the state. “My heart is with you, and I also convey the concern of Mr. President, who directed that I come here with the Minister of Defence. Last week, the National Security Adviser was here. Now, on Monday, the Vice President will engage stakeholders on the Plateau. The President has said these killings must stop,” he stated.
The Vice President is expected to convene a critical stakeholders’ meeting aimed at developing comprehensive strategies to improve security and promote long-term peace across the troubled regions.
Speaking during the visit, Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, who was accompanied by top military officers including the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, assured residents of the government’s commitment to finding lasting solutions.
“The President has given strict orders to identify and bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice. The security agencies are already on top of the matter. God willing, we will get to the root of it and ensure justice is served,” Badaru said.
He added that the Federal Government has begun offering relief to victims, including widows and other vulnerable groups, with a broader welfare programme in the pipeline to alleviate their suffering.
Meanwhile, the Plateau Youth Council (PYC) Northern Zone has condemned the attacks, describing them not as communal clashes but as targeted genocidal acts designed to drive communities off their ancestral lands.
Speaking at a press briefing in Jos, PYC Northern Zone Coordinator, Comrade Samson Chiroma, argued that the attacks, which coincided with the beginning of the wet farming season, appear to be part of a deliberate effort to economically cripple rural dwellers.
Chiroma accused armed Fulani militias of masterminding the violence and criticised the Federal Government’s downplaying of the crisis as mere communal strife. “This is not a coincidence. The people of Plateau are being systematically attacked. If the government is serious, it must begin by holding those who make inciting statements accountable,” he insisted.
The youth leader also expressed disappointment over what he termed the Federal Government’s sluggish and inadequate response to the crisis, emphasizing that peace would remain elusive until justice is done and all enablers of violence are held accountable.
He threw his support behind Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s recent statewide broadcast, commending the governor for capturing the pain and frustration of Plateau citizens. “The governor spoke our minds. We will explore all legal means to ensure justice is served. We can no longer stand by and watch our people slaughtered without provocation,” he said.
Chiroma further called on the state government to bolster Operation Rainbow — the local security outfit — by increasing recruitment and equipping personnel with modern tools to counter the escalating threats.
He warned that the patience of the affected communities is wearing thin and cautioned that if another attack occurs, the youths should not be blamed for any reaction that may follow.
The recent wave of violence has reignited concerns about insecurity in Plateau, with many residents demanding swift and decisive government action to halt the killings and restore normalcy.
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