Yilwatda: The plateau must never bleed again

Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, National President of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has commended the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Plateau State to commiserate with the government and people of the state over the recent horrific and senseless killings of innocent residents of Angwan Rukuba in Jos North Local Government Area.

The President’s visit is a profound demonstration of responsive leadership, empathy and national solidarity at a time when the people of Plateau are suffering from the painful and unjust loss of their loved ones to yet another cycle of barbaric violence.

President Tinubu was received in Plateau State by the National President, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, former governors, political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, elders, women and youth representatives, as well as stakeholders from all segments of society in the state.

Speaking during the visit, the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, condemned the killings in the strongest and most unequivocal terms, describing the attack as inhuman, cowardly, reprehensible and a direct attack on the peace, unity and soul of Plateau State.
According to Professor Yilwatda, the continued shedding of innocent blood in the Plateau is not only unacceptable, but represents a national tragedy that must no longer be treated with routine outrage and temporary responses.

In a statement signed by Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the National President on Media and Communications Strategy, Yilwatda stressed that the time has come for deliberate, coordinated and result-oriented efforts by all relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure that such vile and unconscionable acts are never repeated again in Plateau State or any other part of the country.

Professor Yilwatda called on community leaders across Plateau State to become more vigilant, responsive and proactive in identifying and reporting suspicious movements and security threats within their domains.

He noted that the recurring pattern of killings strongly suggests that many of those behind these heinous acts are not ghosts or invisible invaders, but criminal elements and miscreants living in or around communities, exploiting local vulnerabilities to wreak havoc on innocent citizens.

In his words, “these evil perpetrators must no longer be protected by silence, fear, complicity or communal indifference.”
He insisted that they must be identified, exposed, arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

The APC National Chairman also charged security agencies to urgently rethink and upgrade their security architecture and operational methods to address the persistent violence in Plateau State.

He stressed that security agencies cannot continue to employ outdated tactics against increasingly adaptive and ruthless criminal networks and expect a different outcome.

Professor Yilwatda, therefore, advocated the deployment of modern surveillance and intelligence-based technologies, including AI-based cameras, drones, advanced tracking systems and real-time intelligence gathering mechanisms, to detect, monitor and neutralize criminal elements before they strike.

He said the era demands smarter, faster and more sophisticated security responses, adding that the protection of lives and property must now be driven not only by manpower, but also by technology, intelligence, precision and responsibility.

He clearly stated that Plateau cannot continue to cry cyclically while the enemies of peace roam freely and repeatedly unleash terror on innocent citizens.

Professor Yilwatda also drew attention to the serious economic implications of insecurity in Plateau State, lamenting that the State, which is richly blessed with breathtaking natural landscapes, vibrant tourism resources and enormous economic potential, has continued to suffer avoidable setbacks due to persistent violence.

He noted that the Plateau has long been celebrated as a peaceful and attractive destination with some of Nigeria’s most vibrant tourism hubs, cultural attractions and agricultural potential, but all these opportunities remain vulnerable and stunted in the face of recurrent attacks.

According to him, no economy can thrive where fear reigns, no investment can thrive where blood is shed and no society can truly thrive where innocent citizens live in the shadow of insecurity.

He warned that without adequate protection of lives and communities, the social and economic future of the State could be severely crippled, thereby depriving people, especially young people, of prosperity, stability and hope.

Professor Yilwatda therefore called for a whole-of-society approach to ending violence in the Plateau, urging traditional institutions, religious leaders, political actors, youth groups, women’s groups, security workers and community stakeholders to work together with honesty and patriotism to restore peace and stability.

During the visit, other leaders from across Plateau State also spoke passionately about the worrying security situation in the State and the urgent need for decisive and sustained intervention to stop the bloodshed and restore trust among the people.

As part of the visit, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, leaders and other key stakeholders, paid a solemn and deeply emotional visit to the families of victims affected by the Angwan Rukuba attack.

The visit to the bereaved families was a moving moment of compassion and national mourning, as the President shared their grief and offered words of comfort, reassurance and solidarity in the face of unimaginable loss.

The APC notes that this visit by President Tinubu is not merely symbolic; it is a strong signal that the Federal Government stands firmly with the people of Plateau State and remains committed to addressing the threat of violent attacks with renewed urgency and seriousness.

The President is expected to pursue broader engagements with Plateau community leaders and critical stakeholders in the days ahead towards evolving practical, inclusive and lasting solutions that will ensure sustainable peace, justice, reconciliation and security for the people of the State.

The APC reiterates that the lives of Plateau citizens are sacred and non-negotiable and that those who delight in sowing death, fear and division among peaceful communities must be hunted down and brought to justice without delay.

The blood of innocent men, women and children cries out for justice and the nation must respond with resolve.

The Plateau deserves peace.
The plateau deserves to be healed.
The plateau deserves protection.

And above all, the Plateau must never be allowed to bleed like this again.