Senate Issues Directives To IGP On Plateau Killings

The Senate has directed the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to commence a full investigation into the recent killings in Anguwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, which left at least 28 people dead.

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The upper chamber also resolved to dispatch a high-powered delegation led by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to commiserate with victims and residents of the affected communities.

The resolutions followed a motion jointly sponsored by Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central) and Senator Dachung Mwadkon (Plateau North), who raised concerns over the worsening security situation in Kanam and Jos North local government areas.

Moving the motion, Plang lamented that Plateau State, once known as the “Home of Peace and Tourism,” had recently witnessed renewed violence after years of relative calm.

He cited recent attacks in Kanam Local Government Area earlier in March and the deadly assault in Anguwan Rukuba on March 29, 2026, which occurred as residents went about their daily activities.

According to him, the attacks appeared coordinated and deliberately targeted civilians in densely populated areas, heightening fears of escalating insecurity.

The Plateau senator also drew attention to another incident in the Garga axis of Kanam, where a joint security patrol team was ambushed, resulting in casualties among security personnel.

During the debate, lawmakers expressed concern over the complex nature of the crisis, noting that it has economic, ethnic, and religious dimensions.

They warned that the persistent violence is forcing communities to flee their homes, disrupting farming activities, and threatening food security in the region.

The Senate emphasised that the primary responsibility of government is to protect lives and property, urging security agencies to adopt more proactive strategies.

These include establishing permanent operational bases in volatile communities and intensifying intelligence gathering and aerial surveillance to track and dismantle criminal hideouts.

The lawmakers also called for increased recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force and the military to address manpower shortages.

As part of its resolutions, the Senate observed a minute of silence in honour of the victims of the attack.

The chamber also urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to provide relief materials, including food, medical supplies, and shelter, to displaced persons affected by the violence.