The Plateau Youth G-17 Peace and Progressive Forum has called for urgent security reforms, demanding the immediate establishment of state police to address the growing insecurity in Plateau State and across Nigeria.
In a press release issued on April 1, 2026, the group expressed deep concern over the persistent wave of violence affecting communities, noting that repeated attacks have continued despite routine government condemnations.
The Forum lamented that innocent citizens are still being killed in their homes, farms, and places of worship, stressing that the current security arrangement has failed to provide adequate protection.
According to the group, the pattern of attacks has become predictable, often targeting vulnerable communities with little or no security presence, while responses from centralized forces remain delayed.
The youth body argued that Nigeria’s centralized policing system is no longer effective in tackling localized security threats, leaving many communities exposed.
“We say clearly: the current security structure is insufficient,” the statement read.
The Forum further highlighted that attacks are often coordinated and sometimes carried out during religious or festive periods, worsening the fear and tension among residents.
It emphasized that a one-size-fits-all approach to security can no longer address the complex challenges facing Plateau State.
Calling for immediate action, the group urged the Federal Government to fast-track constitutional amendments that would allow for the creation of state police.
“This is not a political luxury; it is a matter of survival,” the Forum stated.
The group explained that state policing would ensure faster response to threats, improved intelligence gathering, and stronger collaboration between security agencies and local communities.
It also noted that decentralizing the security system would reduce the burden on federal forces and enhance overall national security coordination.
The Forum criticized what it described as a cycle of “condolences without action,” insisting that mere statements of sympathy are no longer enough in the face of continuous killings.
“We reject the continued cycle of condolences without action. We reject a system that reacts only after lives have been lost,” the statement added.
The group also called on the Plateau State Government to take proactive steps by developing frameworks for state policing and strengthening local security outfits such as Operation Rainbow.
It urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to demand accountability, emphasizing that the right to life and security must be protected.
The statement was signed by Joshua Longji Sati, Leader of the Plateau Youth G-17 Peace and Progressive Forum, who stressed that the time for decisive action is now.
The Forum warned that history would judge leaders based on their response to the ongoing crisis, insisting that the establishment of state police remains a critical step toward ending the bloodshed.
