Elders from Plateau State have told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the ongoing violence in the state is not primarily due to farmer-herder clashes but is driven by land grabbing and political interests. Speaking during Tinubu's visit to the state, former Governor Jonah Jang, who led the delegation, said more than 160 communities have been destroyed and occupied by armed groups, displacing thousands of residents. He credited Tinubu's visit as a gesture of leadership and compassion following recent killings in Angwan Rukuba and other areas. Jang noted that despite interventions by past administrations, security in Plateau has deteriorated, with suspects often escaping accountability as cases stall when transferred between agencies. The elders called for intelligence-based security operations, more personnel, and better coordination among security forces. They also recommended the recruitment of local forest guards familiar with the terrain and a state police system that operates with autonomy. Rejecting the widely held view of agrarian conflict, Jang insisted the violence stems from expansionist agendas, land grabbing, and religious and political influences. A special intervention fund was proposed to rebuild destroyed communities and support the return of displaced persons. Plateau leaders affirmed their commitment to peace and collaboration with the federal government.
Jonah Jang's assertion that 160 communities have been seized shifts the narrative from spontaneous clashes to organised territorial takeover. This reframing suggests the crisis is less about pastoralism and more about systemic exploitation enabled by weak enforcement. For Nigerians in Plateau, it means security responses focused only on ethnic or occupational tensions will fail to address the core issue: land as a weapon. Tinubu's government now faces the challenge of matching rhetoric with targeted action, or risk another cycle of displacement under the guise of familiar labels.
