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The four branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Plateau State have raised fresh concerns over the continued attacks on communities across the state, calling for urgent security and constitutional reforms to strengthen the protection of lives and property. The lawyers, drawn from the Jos, Bukuru, Pankshin and Shendam branches, made the demand at a joint press conference in Jos, where they expressed concern over recurring violence in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bokkos Local Government Areas.
The NBA said the persistence of attacks, even in areas where curfews and other security measures have been introduced, was a matter of serious concern. The association cited the reported killing of community vigilantes at their duty post in Kikyau village, Mangu Local Government Area, during curfew hours, as well as attacks reported in communities including Kantoma and Bin-Per in Mangu and Kassa, Wereh, Ropp, Fan and Marit districts in Barkin Ladi. According to the lawyers, the continued violence has contributed to the loss of lives and property while weakening public confidence in the ability of government to provide adequate security.
The lawyers anchored their concerns on the constitutional responsibility of government to protect citizens, particularly the right to life guaranteed under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. They argued that protecting lives and property should remain at the centre of every security policy, warning that prolonged violence, displacement and the alleged occupation of ancestral lands could further undermine law and order. The NBA also called for investigations into reported delays in the response of security agencies to attacks, with sanctions where personnel are found to have acted improperly or negligently.
One of the major demands from the Plateau lawyers is greater involvement of state governments in security operations. The NBA called on the Federal Government to sponsor an Executive Bill before the National Assembly that would move security to the Concurrent Legislative List and give state governors greater operational control over security architecture within their states. The call comes amid the wider national debate over the establishment of state police and whether greater decentralisation of policing could improve responses to security threats at the community level.
The association also called for better equipment and welfare for the Armed Forces and other security agencies, stronger border surveillance and improved security around areas bordering Bauchi and Taraba states. It specifically proposed the establishment of a military formation around the Pai River Game Reserve, which it said could help address criminal activities around the Plateau-Bauchi-Taraba axis. The lawyers further urged authorities to strengthen police divisions and Forward Operating Bases in vulnerable communities.
The NBA acknowledged some measures already taken by the Plateau State Government, including efforts to strengthen Operation Rainbow and the Neighbourhood Watch. According to the association, the state government has trained 2,000 personnel, procured security vehicles and motorcycles, established a command and central monitoring centre in Jos and constituted a committee to work on the creation of a state police service. The lawyers nevertheless called for additional legal and operational support to enable these local security structures to function effectively under appropriate supervision.
The security concerns come as authorities continue to deploy additional personnel to affected areas. Premium Times reported that the Nigerian Army had deployed 178 personnel to reinforce security operations in Mangu under Sector 8 of Operation Enduring Peace. The deployment followed renewed attacks and growing concerns about security gaps in parts of the state, although the NBA maintained that more comprehensive reforms were required beyond troop deployments alone.
Beyond policing, the NBA called for stronger judicial action against perpetrators and sponsors of terrorism and other violent crimes. It urged time-bound trials of terrorism-related cases and greater transparency in the prosecution of those identified as responsible for attacks. The association also said it was prepared to support victims and displaced persons through legal assistance, public-interest litigation and other lawful interventions.
For the lawyers, the situation in Plateau goes beyond individual incidents of violence. They argued that when communities repeatedly face attacks without an effective and timely response, confidence in public institutions begins to suffer. Their call for state police, stronger security coordination, better-equipped agencies and judicial reforms therefore forms part of a broader demand for a security system capable of responding quickly to threats and ensuring that those responsible are brought before the law.
As attacks continue to test security arrangements in parts of Plateau State, the NBA’s intervention has added renewed pressure for both immediate security action and longer-term institutional reforms. The association has urged federal, state and local authorities to work together while also calling on traditional rulers and communities to strengthen intelligence gathering and report suspicious activities. For residents living in affected areas, the central issue remains the same: the need for effective protection of lives, property and communities as authorities confront the continuing security challenge.
