Senator Diket Plang (APC/Plateau)
By CHRISTIANA LOT, Jos –
Senator Diket Plang, representing Plateau Central Senatorial District, has decried the spate of attacks in parts of Plateau State, particularly in Bokkos Local Government Area, describing the killings as tragic and no longer tolerable.
Addressing journalists in Jos, the lawmaker condemned what he described as sustained acts of provocation in communities such as Hurti and Manguna, where over 50 persons were reportedly killed in their homes.
He said government must act swiftly, warning that the patience of the people is wearing thin.
“The elastic limit of tolerance has been reached. You can imagine this: killers or terrorists coming day after day for about two weeks, each time killing here and there.
“Then they brought the last stroke that broke the camel’s back in Hurti and Manguna, where over 50 people were killed in their homes. Even as of my visit yesterday, they were still picking corpses in the bush. This is unacceptable. This is sad. And I assure you that the elastic limit of tolerance has been reached,” he declared.
He praised the people of Plateau for their discipline in the face of repeated attacks, warning that their restraint should not be mistaken for weakness.
“The people of Plateau are peace-loving and law-abiding. They have shown uncommon restraint under continuous provocation. But if urgent steps are not taken, it may become difficult to hold them back. Even as I speak, I salute their courage and discipline for choosing peace over retaliation. Because if it were somewhere else, I assure you, the retaliation or jungle justice would have gone beyond the control of the security forces,” he stated.
Senator Plang also highlighted operational challenges facing security agencies, noting that most of the affected communities are inaccessible and lack communication infrastructure, which hinders rapid response.
He called on the government to give more focused attention to Bokkos and other flashpoints of violence, noting that some villages have no access roads and lack mobile network coverage, making it difficult to call for help during attacks.
He expressed concern about the impact of the violence on agriculture, saying many farmers have abandoned their fields due to insecurity. He stressed that Plateau’s agricultural output, which contributes significantly to the region and beyond, is under threat.
“Plateau State is an agricultural state,” Senator Plang emphasized. “Our people depend on farming for their livelihood. But how will it happen? Our people hardly go to farm because they’re not safe.
“The government is doing a lot to promote agriculture—both irrigation and rain-fed farming. But without security, nothing can happen. If our people cannot go to the farm, I assure you, it will affect not just Nigeria but West Africa. Our crops—our maize, our sweet potatoes—go beyond Nigeria.”
He urged the government to move beyond emergency aid and implement a structured resettlement plan that would allow displaced persons to return to their ancestral lands before the end of the year. He stressed that permanent displacement must be avoided.
Assuring that he would continue to raise these concerns at the national level, Senator Plang appealed to all stakeholders to intensify efforts toward lasting peace, while encouraging residents to remain hopeful and vigilant.
“We have always welcomed people from across the country to live peacefully with us. All we ask is that no one takes our hospitality for granted. Government must act now, and we as representatives will continue to speak out until justice and peace return to our land.”
