COAS Leads Security Intervention in Plateau as ECWA Condemns Killings, Kwara Abduction

Published By Jerry Adesewo On Apr 2, 2026

COAS Leads Security Intervention in Plateau as ECWA Condemns Killings, Kwara Abduction

By Comfort Pius

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Thursday led a high-powered security assessment team to Plateau State, as concerns mount over renewed violence in that part of the country.

The visit comes amid fresh attacks in Plateau and Kaduna states, as well as a recent abduction in Kwara State, prompting both military response and strong condemnation from religious leaders.

Arriving in Jos, the COAS was received by Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, in what officials described as a show of strengthened civil-military collaboration. He was subsequently briefed by Major General Folusho Oyinlola, General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander of Operation ENDURING PEACE, on ongoing operations aimed at stabilising affected communities and curbing further threats.

Lieutenant General Shaibu also engaged with community leaders and residents, assuring them of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to restoring order and protecting lives. He urged citizens to remain calm, comply with existing security measures, and support ongoing operations through vigilance and cooperation.

Local authorities welcomed the intervention, with the Chairman of Jos North Local Government Area, Hon. Barr. John Kyoroh Christopher, noting that the presence of the Army Chief would boost public confidence and reinforce trust in security efforts.

The military’s move comes against the backdrop of widespread outrage following recent killings in Plateau and Kaduna states. In a strongly worded statement issued on April 2, 2026, the President of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Rev. Dr. Job Ayuba Bagat Mallam, described the attacks as “barbaric” and a grave assault on humanity.

Mallam expressed deep anguish over the killings in Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North, Plateau State, and the attack on wedding guests in Kahir village, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He also decried the abduction of 10 persons in Ora-Ago community in Kwara State, noting that seven victims remain in captivity despite ransom demands.

“With a heavy heart and deep anguish of soul, I speak on behalf of ECWA concerning this wave of violence against innocent citizens,” he said, stressing that the continued loss of lives demands urgent national attention.

While commending the swift responses of Governors Mutfwang and Uba Sani of Kaduna State, the ECWA President called for more decisive action from both state and federal authorities. He urged security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of abducted victims in Kwara and prevent further attacks.

Mallam further called on the Federal Government to treat the growing insecurity as a national emergency, advocating a more proactive and intelligence-driven overhaul of the country’s security architecture. He recommended the deployment of advanced surveillance systems, strengthened community-based policing, swift prosecution of perpetrators, and improved support for victims and displaced persons.

“As a Church, we are compelled not only to console but also to call for righteousness. We must seek justice, defend the vulnerable, and encourage the oppressed,” he said.

He also urged Nigerians to embrace collective responsibility in addressing insecurity, calling for unity, vigilance, and peaceful coexistence.

The convergence of military action and civic outcry underscores the urgency of Nigeria’s security challenges, as stakeholders continue to demand not just responses, but lasting solutions.

For now, the Army’s intervention in Plateau represents a critical step in restoring calm, even as broader calls grow louder for a more coordinated and sustained national strategy to end the cycle of violence.