Shettima’s Plateau visit fails to hold, gov summons security meeting
Despite prior announcements, Vice President Kashim Shettima did not visit Plateau State on Monday as earlier scheduled to address the recent wave of killings in the region, The PUNCH reports.
This came as Governor Caleb Mutfwang convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting on Monday at the Government House in Rayfield, Jos.
The Vice President’s visit was initially disclosed by Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, during a Saturday visit to affected communities in Bassa Local Government Area.
Yilwatda had stated that Shettima’s trip was at the directive of President Bola Tinubu to engage stakeholders and bolster security coordination in the troubled state.
“Last week, the NSA was here, and on Monday, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be here to engage the stakeholders of Plateau State because Mr President said these killings must come to an end,” Yilwatda said.
He added, “My heart is with you, and I convey also that of Mr President, who is so concerned that he asked us to come here — not just me alone, but also the Minister of Defence.”
The visit was intended as a follow-up to earlier visits by the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police, and the Chief of Defence Staff.
It was seen as a crucial move to reinforce federal commitment to justice and protection for victims of recent attacks in Bokkos and Bassa communities, which have left over a hundred people dead and drawn public outrage.
However, checks by The PUNCH correspondent at the Rayfield Government House in Jos confirmed that Shettima did not arrive as anticipated.
State Commissioner for Information, Joyce Ramnap, when asked for clarification, responded, “I haven’t gotten any notice that the Vice President will visit Plateau today. So, I can’t give you information on what I don’t know.”
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Vice President’s office nor the Plateau State Government had issued an official explanation for the aborted visit.
Governor emergency stakeholders’ meeting, was aimed at addressing the growing security crisis, brought together four former governors, National Assembly members, state lawmakers, traditional rulers, and political leaders.
Mutfwang lamented the widespread violence, saying, “The state is under siege. No territorial zone is spared. We have cult groups like the Sarasuka Boys who have taken many lives in Jos North, Pankshin, Kanke, and Mangu.”
He referenced past insecurity, including the state of emergency declared under former President Olusegun Obasanjo during Chief Joshua Dariye’s administration, and noted that violence in Plateau did not begin with his tenure.
“Recent attacks in Bokkos and Bassa LGAs have claimed over a hundred lives. Yes, as governor, I know that I owe the people of the state a responsibility to work in tandem with the federal security agencies to bring about peace. And we have never rested on our oars,” the governor said.
Mutfwang added, “Apart from engaging community leaders to find out their problems, we have also made kinetic provisions supporting these federal security agencies with logistics… But yet we are yet to come out of the woods.”
He stressed the need for unity and collaboration across the state’s diverse communities.
“Perhaps one of the reasons this has persisted is that we have never for a long time gathered as a people of Plateau to speak with one voice. We must find solutions collectively,” he said.
The governor welcomed constructive criticism and called for greater stakeholder engagement to restore peace, saying, “If there’s anything I’ve failed to do, please say so — I will amend.”
