Chairman of the Plateau State Special Fact-Finding Committee, and former Commander of Operation Safe Haven, Gen. Rogers Nicholas (retd.), has urged governments at all levels to adopt grassroots-driven security reforms and strictly enforce the state’s Anti-Land Grabbing Law (2022) as lasting solutions to the persistent violence in Plateau State.
Speaking in Abuja during a special security conference organised by the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Plateau Security, Nicholas presented key findings from months of field consultations and shared insights from his experience managing security operations in the state.
He described the Plateau crisis as a complex interplay of ethnic and historical grievances, land disputes, open grazing conflicts, poverty, illegal mining, youth unemployment, porous borders, and a weak justice system.
According to him, one of the major drivers of the unrest is the recurring cycle of reprisal attacks arising from farmer-herder clashes that often escalate into widespread community violence.
Nicholas recalled that during his tenure as Commander of Operation Safe Haven, he prioritised community trust-building and dialogue, convening town hall meetings with local and Fulani leaders and introducing community-based compensation systems to address cases such as cattle rustling and crop destruction.
While those initiatives brought temporary stability, he lamented that they were discontinued after his tenure, leading to renewed hostilities.
Presenting his committee’s key recommendations, the retired general called for the establishment of Peace and Security Committees in every community, to be chaired by traditional rulers and composed of representatives of all ethnic and religious groups.
He also called for the strict enforcement and review of the Anti-Land Grabbing Law, the creation of designated ranching areas and grazing routes in partnership with local authorities, and the strengthening of the criminal justice system through stiffer penalties for cattle rustling, illegal arms possession, and farmland destruction.
Nicholas further proposed the formation of an Interstate Joint Security Task Force involving neighbouring states — Kaduna, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Bauchi — to tackle cross-border attacks.
He also advocated the integration of local vigilante groups into formal security structures such as Operation Rainbow and investment in rural communication infrastructure to enable faster responses to security threats.
In his remarks, Chairman of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Plateau Security, Hon. Wale Ahmed (Agege), reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to uncovering the root causes of Plateau’s long-standing violence and finding sustainable solutions.
He disclosed that the committee had written 237 letters to institutions and individuals across Plateau State, out of which 47 responses were received. Respondents included the Plateau State House of Assembly, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim Youth Foundation, University of Jos Centre for Conflict Management, Operation Rainbow, Miyetti Allah, traditional councils, emirates, and security agencies.
Ahmed added that the committee also visited former Governor Joshua Dariye, who led the state during the 2001 Jos crisis, to gain historical context and draw from past lessons.
He concluded by stressing that the committee would continue to engage civil society organisations, traditional rulers, and security agencies to ensure its final report reflects the collective aspirations of the Plateau people and lays a framework for lasting peace in the state.
