In a stark departure from previous administrative terminology, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has officially characterized the recurring attacks in the state as acts of terrorism. Speaking in an exclusive interview with News Central TV Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief Kayode Akintemi, the Governor asserted that the violence is no longer merely “communal conflict” but a calculated campaign of terror designed to destabilize the region.
“What is happening are acts of terrorism,” Governor Mutfwang stated firmly during the sit-down at the Government House in Jos. “I can say that 80% of the insecurity challenge on the plateau are pure acts of terrorism and we must continue to see these terrorists as enemies of the State, affecting the Sovereign integrity of Nigeria.”
Governor Mutfwang pointedly argued that the scale of the destruction in areas like Bokkos and Riyom suggests a level of organization and funding that transcends local grievances and mere communal conflict.
He challenged the federal security architecture to match this assessment, and called for a re-evaluation of the rules of engagement for security forces stationed in the North-Central zone. “We have some of the most treacherous terrains and so a lot of ungoverned territories that make access even for security agencies very difficult and this is one of the cries we have put out to the federal government”.
Kayode Akintemi pressed the Governor on the insecurity in the state and the devastating effects of the conflict. Akintemi addressed the disturbing situation and News Central’s position stating that “we have come to Jos, Plateau state, to amplify the voices of the people and the Middle Belt that have suffered fatal losses and experienced trauma that normally nations at war may not even see.”
The interview comes ahead of News Central’s widely anticipated Town Hall Middle Belt on May 7th, 2026, which has been organized to address insecurity and violence in areas of Plateau State such as Bokkos, Mangu, and Jos. During the interview, Governor Mutfwang also commended the security agencies for their tireless efforts in addressing insecurity.
Exclusive: Governor Mutfwang Reclassifies Plateau Violence as “Terrorism,” Emphasises Federal Response
In a stark departure from previous administrative terminology, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has officially characterized the recurring attacks in the state as acts of terrorism. Speaking in an exclusive interview with News Central TV Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief Kayode Akintemi, the Governor asserted that the violence is no longer merely “communal conflict” but a calculated campaign of terror designed to destabilize the region.
“What is happening are acts of terrorism,” Governor Mutfwang stated firmly during the sit-down at the Government House in Jos. “I can say that 80% of the insecurity challenge on the plateau are pure acts of terrorism and we must continue to see these terrorists as enemies of the State, affecting the Sovereign integrity of Nigeria.”
Governor Mutfwang pointedly argued that the scale of the destruction in areas like Bokkos and Riyom suggests a level of organization and funding that transcends local grievances and mere communal conflict.
He challenged the federal security architecture to match this assessment, and called for a re-evaluation of the rules of engagement for security forces stationed in the North-Central zone. “We have some of the most treacherous terrains and so a lot of ungoverned territories that make access even for security agencies very difficult and this is one of the cries we have put out to the federal government”.
Kayode Akintemi pressed the Governor on the insecurity in the state and the devastating effects of the conflict. Akintemi addressed the disturbing situation and News Central’s position stating that “we have come to Jos, Plateau state, to amplify the voices of the people and the Middle Belt that have suffered fatal losses and experienced trauma that normally nations at war may not even see.”
The interview comes ahead of News Central’s widely anticipated Town Hall Middle Belt on May 7th, 2026, which has been organized to address insecurity and violence in areas of Plateau State such as Bokkos, Mangu, and Jos. During the interview, Governor Mutfwang also commended the security agencies for their tireless efforts in addressing insecurity.
