Zagazola Warns of Imminent Reprisal Attacks in Plateau
Plateau State could witness fresh reprisal attacks if security authorities fail to act promptly on existing intelligence, security analyst Zagazola Makama has warned.
Makama said intelligence reports indicate that armed groups are currently mobilising for coordinated assaults around the Fan and Foron areas.
In a post on his X handle, he linked the looming threat to the recent rustling of dozens of cattle from Ganawuri, Vom and Riyom communities.
He stated that the groups involved have allegedly identified locations where the stolen cattle are being held along the Foron–Fan corridor and are planning simultaneous attacks to reclaim them.
Makama warned that such actions could result in significant loss of lives and widespread instability across the state.
He identified the Mangu–Barkin Ladi boundary and the Bisichi–Foron corridor as emerging hotspots that require sustained surveillance and regular security patrols.
“The danger signs are clear. There is a risk that reprisals could happen at any moment if urgent preventive measures are not taken,” he said.
Makama called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intervene immediately, stressing the need for the recovery and release of the rustled cattle.
He noted that cattle theft has historically served as a trigger for broader communal violence in Plateau State.
The analyst also criticised the Plateau State Government, accusing it of maintaining what he described as a conspiracy of silence and failing to take visible steps to de-escalate tensions.
He said the state has wrongly portrayed dialogue with Fulani communities as a betrayal, rather than acknowledging it as a necessary pathway to peace.
According to Makama, Plateau is facing two dimensions of banditry: local groups allegedly empowered to protect land but who have turned to criminal activities, and armed groups that launch reprisal attacks after losing livestock.
“There is always a dangerous silence around this matter while lives are at risk,” he said, emphasising that prevention should take precedence over reaction.
He urged the government to show zero tolerance for militia activities and criminal profiteering from cattle rustling, warning that inaction could portray the state as complicit by omission.
“Lives are being wasted on a daily basis while the state government looks away,” Makama said.
He cautioned that mischaracterising the crisis could further inflame the situation if it is not addressed “quickly and fairly.”
Makama called for sustained engagement with community leaders across divides, supported by intelligence-driven security operations, noting that the use of force alone has proven ineffective.
He urged the state government to convene inclusive dialogues involving traditional rulers, youths, women, farmers, pastoralists and security agencies.
“Plateau people deserved leadership that would prioritise lives over politics and action over silence,” he said.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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