Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has raised alarming concerns regarding the ongoing attacks in the state, highlighting that several victims of the recent banditry incidents have reported that the perpetrators do not speak any Nigerian languages.
Speaking in an interview on Channels TV from 0:21, the governor emphasized that these attackers, who have caused untold suffering in local communities, may not even be Nigerians, further complicating efforts to address the crisis.
In his statement, Governor Mutfwang described the escalating security situation in Plateau, which has seen a surge in violent attacks, particularly in areas such as the Bokkos Local Government Area.
The attacks, which have left over 50 people dead and displaced thousands, have raised questions about the identity and motives of the assailants.
Local residents have told authorities that the bandits they encountered communicated in languages unfamiliar to Nigerians, suggesting a foreign element among the attackers.
The governor pointed out that many of the assailants appeared to be migrating from neighboring regions, particularly from the northwest, and infiltrating the North-Central zone.
This pattern of cross-border banditry is not only disturbing but also poses significant challenges for local security forces, who are already stretched thin due to the widespread nature of the attacks.
Governor Mutfwang further discussed the pervasive impact of the attacks, noting that the bandits have effectively taken control of large swaths of Plateau’s forests and waterways, areas that were once safe havens for locals. This has left the state vulnerable to continued incursions, with security forces struggling to contain the violence.
In his words; “Now, banditry in Nigeria has come to be associated with herdsmen, with cattle rearing. The two go together—they seem to go together. So, I have not met one of those people one-on-one, but what people who have come under the attacks have told us is that sometimes these people cannot even speak any Nigerian language. That is the truth. Some of them are non-Nigerians. But some of them, I tell you, they migrate from the northwest, coming into places like Bauchi.”
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