A former governorship aspirant in Plateau State, Brigadier General John Sura (Rtd), has strongly criticized Governor Caleb Mutfwang over the rising insecurity and repeated killings in the state.
Gen. Sura, who recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), accused the governor of abandoning governance for political campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections. He said the people who depend on him for safety are left suffering due to poor leadership. According to him, more than 96 communities have been destroyed and thousands of families displaced by armed groups across three local government areas in the last two years.
The retired general, who once served as the General Secretary of the State Resettlement Task Force on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), explained that Fulani militias had attacked 50 villages in Bokkos and 46 in Mangu local government areas. He also revealed that over 2,400 households in Barkin Ladi had been affected by similar violence.
“In Mangu alone, 46 villages are now empty because residents were driven out. In Bokkos, nearly 50 villages have been deserted,” Sura stated.
He added that many displaced persons are no longer in IDP camps, as most have moved into city centers, which is creating more problems. He stressed that in Barkin Ladi alone, around 2,400 families have been badly affected.
Sura further expressed disappointment that the state government failed to implement the recommendations of a report submitted by his committee.
He said, “It’s surprising that more than a year later, nothing has been done with the report we presented. From the interim to the final report, no action has been taken.”
According to him, the final report was ready last year but the government treated it without urgency. He noted that it was only in February this year that the report was acknowledged, and since then, it has been left unused.
Sura also explained that the committee, led by Retired Air Commodore Christopher Pam, identified several villages where residents fled due to fear of attacks or threats of violence.
He expressed sadness that the detailed report, which could help address the insecurity, has been ignored by the governor, showing a lack of political will.
