The Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PPBA) has sounded the alarm over growing threats of violent extremism in the state, following months of relentless attacks on defenceless communities.
Speaking during a peace forum in Jos, the Director-General of PPBA, Professor Julie Sanda, warned that the recurring violence, particularly between May and July, has killed over 500 people across several communities in Mangu, Bokkos, Riyom, and Bassa Local Government Areas.
According to Prof. Sanda, the emerging security threats demand a shift in approach from traditional response methods to context-specific peace-building strategies. She emphasized the need for coordinated action among government bodies, security agencies, community leaders, and civil society.
“The attacks could be an early indication of a more organized extremist movement forming in the region,” Prof. Sanda said, urging intelligence-driven policing and proactive community resilience-building as key to averting future disasters.
Speaking on the forum’s theme, “Preventing Violent Extremism in Plateau State: Strengthening Community Resilience and Coordinated Action,” she called on stakeholders to focus on youth engagement and early warning mechanisms to curb radicalization and restore stability.
Prof. Sanda concluded that collective action was essential to halt the deepening violence and protect the state from slipping further into insecurity.
