At the heart of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang’s administration is an unwavering commitment to the safety of lives and property in Plateau State. Since assuming office in May 2023, he has repeatedly stressed that peace and security are not only constitutional duties but also the foundation for social and economic recovery. Without security, he notes, there can be no meaningful industrialization, innovation, or job creation to guarantee prosperity for the people.
In his inaugural address, Governor Mutfwang pledged that security under his leadership would go beyond rhetoric. He vowed to be firm, fair, and just to all, regardless of political, ethnic, or religious affiliations.
Barely weeks after his declaration as Governor-Elect, the state was plunged into crisis as his hometown, Mangu, and Riyom Local Government Area—home of his deputy, Ngo Josephine Piyo—came under devastating attacks. Rather than trade blame, the governor took swift action by visiting internally displaced persons in Riyom, Barkin-Ladi, Mangu, and Bokkos. Many of them had lived in camps for nearly two decades. His visit and assurances offered renewed hope to families who, for the first time, felt genuinely cared for by government.
Governor Mutfwang also reframed the long-running crisis, describing the killings not as “herder-farmer clashes” but as coordinated genocide against defenseless rural communities. Security analysts and public commentators have since supported this view, pointing to the systematic nature of the violence.
Determined to seek lasting solutions, he personally visited security institutions in Abuja, including the armed forces, police, DSS, immigration, customs, civil defence, correctional service, and NEMA. He also briefed President Bola Tinubu. These engagements yielded results, as top security chiefs visited Plateau for the first time in years and deployed forces to vulnerable communities, preventing further bloodshed. This also led to the establishment of new police mobile force squadrons in Barkin-Ladi and Bassa, as well as MOPOL 81 in Kwall—now considered one of the most equipped in Nigeria.
At the state level, his administration revived Operation Rainbow, a dormant security outfit created under former governor Jonah Jang. Six hundred trusted youths and community leaders were recruited from vulnerable areas, trained, and equipped to provide intelligence that has already foiled several planned attacks. Plans are underway to add another 1,450 operatives across all 17 local government areas.
To improve mobility, the government repaired abandoned patrol vehicles, purchased new Hilux vans and motorcycles, and provided protective gear for security personnel. Working with local councils, 17 new vehicles were also handed over to Operation Rainbow. A State Security and Information Centre was launched with a toll-free line for citizens to report threats, while a Special Activities Centre equipped with surveillance technology now monitors movement across the state.
Governor Mutfwang has also focused on resettling displaced persons. In 2024, he set up a Resettlement Committee to plan the safe return of IDPs to their ancestral homes, with emphasis on security guarantees before resettlement begins fully. In May 2025, he inaugurated a Fact-Finding Committee to assess destruction, trace attack routes, identify perpetrators, and recommend interventions.
Recognizing the role of dialogue, his administration established a State Inter-Religious Advisory Committee to engage different faith and ethnic groups in resolving tensions and preventing future conflicts.
Governor Mutfwang insists Plateau will not be defined by insecurity. His government is rebuilding trust, reconnecting displaced populations with their homes, and restoring confidence in the future. By prioritizing security, collaborating with national institutions, empowering communities, and fostering dialogue, he says Plateau is on course to become secure, united, and prosperous.
Gyang Bere is Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Executive Governor of Plateau Stat
