President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has reassured residents of Plateau State that President Bola Tinubu remains firmly committed to ending the prolonged cycle of killings and communal unrest that has plagued the region for years.
Akpabio delivered the message in Jos over the weekend while representing the president at a massive All Progressives Congress (APC) rally held at the Jos Polo Field. He said Tinubu had placed Plateau’s peace efforts at the heart of his national security agenda, making the state’s stability a top priority for the federal government.
As part of renewed peace-building efforts, Tinubu dispatched an emissary, Dr Abiodun Essiet, to Plateau to help mend intercommunal relations through dialogue, reconciliation, and direct engagement with local leaders.
Arrests Strengthen Federal Response to Insecurity
In a related development, the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested another suspected arms supplier, Musa Abubakar, believed to have provided weapons to violent groups operating in Plateau and neighbouring states. His arrest followed shortly after the recapture of Abdulazeez Obadaki (Bomboy), a Kuje Prison escapee linked to deadly attacks in Owo and the Deeper Life Bible Church.
DSS sources disclosed that the raid was part of an intelligence-driven operation on November 12 that uncovered Abubakar’s arms-manufacturing workshop in the Mista Ali area of Bassa. Security operatives recovered IED materials, chemicals and equipment used in producing high-calibre weapons. Authorities noted that a total of nine suspects tied to attacks in Plateau and Benue have been arrested so far.
Akpabio: ‘Plateau Deserves Peace’
Speaking to thousands of APC supporters, Akpabio said the president is deeply troubled by years of bloodshed, displacement and shattered communities in Plateau.
“Too many lives have been lost and too many homes destroyed. Plateau deserves peace,” he said, adding that Tinubu’s determination to halt the killings “is unwavering.” He expressed personal anguish over the frequent violence, stressing that the wellbeing of Plateau citizens remains central to the administration’s security priorities.
Although the rally was convened to receive defectors from five opposition parties into APC, Akpabio focused on national stability, insisting that safeguarding lives and property remains the federal government’s overriding responsibility.
Mass Defection Reshapes Plateau’s Political Landscape
The rally marked a major political shift as several influential figures formally joined the ruling APC. Notable defectors included former Plateau North Senator Istifanus Gyang, former PDP campaign DG Latep Dabang, Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate Dr Patrick Dakum, and NNPP’s former candidate Alfred Dabwam.
Three serving members of the House of Representatives — Fom Dalyop, Ajang Alfred Ilya, and Daniel Asama Ago — also defected, alongside former lawmakers, political leaders, and grassroots mobilizers.
Akpabio described the defections as proof that the APC has become the dominant force in Plateau, crediting National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda for strengthening the party. He praised Tinubu for endorsing Yilwatda, calling him “a man of valour and integrity” whose emergence had transformed Plateau’s political climate.
“With the calibre of those joining us, Plateau is APC from today,” Akpabio declared. “Come 2027, Plateau shall deliver the APC.”
Yilwatda: ‘APC or Nothing in 2027’
Addressing the rally, Yilwatda said the mass defection signified the “final consolidation” of APC’s control in Plateau ahead of the 2027 general election. He assured new members of equal rights within the party, emphasizing that APC remains open to all who want to contribute to a new political order in the state.
The event drew several high-profile dignitaries, including Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule, Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia, and Kogi Deputy Governor Salifu Joel.
Tinubu’s Emissary Deepens Peace Efforts Across Communities
Dr Essiet spent two days in Plateau engaging Christian leaders, Fulani representatives and various community groups. She held a town hall meeting in Jos, where delegates from all 17 local government areas discussed mechanisms for strengthening grassroots peace structures.
She visited Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, Chairman of the Regional Church Council in Barkin Ladi, and met with widows affected by violence, conveying Tinubu’s message of ethnic reconciliation. Essiet also held sessions with Fulani leaders to promote dialogue between pastoralist and farming communities.
Essiet later met with Irigwe and Miyetti Allah leaders, along with youth representatives from Bassa, focusing on sustaining harmony through a 17-member peace committee that has improved dialogue and coexistence.
A notable breakthrough emerged when a conflict between a farmer, David Toma, and local herdsmen was resolved after the Miyetti Allah chairman in Bassa, Isah Yau, paid N500,000 in compensation following damage to Toma’s farm. All parties signed an agreement to maintain peace.
Essiet reaffirmed Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance, stressing that community-led peace structures are crucial for long-term stability across the North-Central region.
