JOS, Nigeria — Tension gripped Jos on Wednesday as hundreds of youths under the Coalition of Northern Zone Ethnic Nationalities and the Plateau Youth Coalition staged a peaceful protest at the Government House, decrying persistent attacks in rural communities and rising insecurity across Plateau State.
The demonstrators, who gathered at about 11 a.m., marched with placards and chanted solidarity songs, calling on authorities to take immediate and decisive steps to halt the wave of violence. Their protest comes amid renewed fears following a series of deadly incidents, including a recent ambush in Kanam Local Government Area, where about 14 security personnel were reportedly killed.
Addressing journalists during the protest, the President of the Plateau Youth Coalition, Ezekiel Peter Bini, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation, warning that residents now feel increasingly vulnerable.
“If security agents who are supposed to protect us can be ambushed, then what about civilians? Our lives are increasingly at risk,” Bini said.
He noted that attacks have continued unabated, citing another recent incident in Rim community of Riyom Local Government Area, further heightening anxiety among residents.
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Also speaking, President of the Berom Youth Movement and Chairman of the Northern Zone Coalition, Barrister Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, suggested that the region may be witnessing an influx of displaced insurgents from other parts of the country, thereby compounding existing security challenges in Plateau and the wider Middle Belt.
Mwantiri emphasized that the violence has cut across ethnic and religious divides, urging unity and coordinated action to address the crisis. He called on the state government to collaborate with international partners to strengthen security architecture and restore peace to affected communities.
The protest also drew attention to the humanitarian toll of the ongoing violence. President of the Berom Women Development Association, Ngo Esther Banga, lamented the growing number of widows and orphans resulting from repeated attacks, stressing that women and children remain the most affected.
She added that the insecurity has disrupted livelihoods and crippled tourism in the state, calling for urgent intervention to restore normalcy.
The protesters submitted a list of demands to be forwarded to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging the Federal Government to take immediate action to safeguard lives and property.
Although Caleb Mutfwang, his deputy, and the Secretary to the State Government were reportedly away on official engagements at the time of the protest, the group said it remained undeterred.
They pledged to reconvene on Monday to present their grievances directly to the governor, warning that failure to address their concerns could lead to larger demonstrations.
The protest ended peacefully, but the message from the youths was unmistakable: without swift and decisive action, the fragile security situation in Plateau State risks spiraling further out of control.
