Mutfwang Advocates Intelligence-Led, Preventive Strategies to Tackle Insecurity in Nigeria

Mutfwang Advocates Intelligence-Led, Preventive Strategies to Tackle Insecurity in Nigeria

Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has called for a comprehensive, intelligence-led and preventive approach to addressing insecurity in Nigeria and other African countries, stressing the need to tackle the root causes of conflicts rather than rely solely on reactive security operations.

Mutfwang made the call while delivering the lead paper at a crisis management seminar organised by the Directorate of Simulation and Crisis Management in collaboration with the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) for participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 19 (EIMC 19), 2026.

The seminar, themed “Crisis Management Strategies for Addressing Ethnic Militias and Resource Competition in Africa: Implications for National Security,” was held at the Rivers Learning Centre of NISS in Bwari, Abuja.

The governor explained that competition for scarce natural resources, population growth, migration, social and economic inequalities, and struggles for political power and territorial control often fuel communal conflicts. He added that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, as well as the political manipulation of ethnic militias, further complicates security challenges across the continent.

Drawing from Plateau State’s experience, Mutfwang urged security practitioners and policymakers to examine the specific circumstances, patterns and motives behind violent attacks rather than rely on generalised explanations.

He cautioned that describing all violence in the state as herder-farmer clashes could overlook other underlying factors, stressing the importance of thorough investigations to identify the actors and motives behind attacks on communities.

Mutfwang cited the March 2010 attack on Dogo Nahawa, also known as Dyemburuk, in which more than 500 people were reportedly killed, as well as the coordinated attacks on communities in Bokkos Local Government Area on Christmas Eve in 2023. He said the incidents underscored the devastating consequences of communal violence and the need for effective intelligence gathering and timely security interventions.

To address the challenges, the governor advocated good governance, inclusive political participation, equitable resource distribution, stronger early-warning and early-response mechanisms, dialogue, mediation and reconciliation.

He also called for improved security institutions, better coordination among government agencies, measures to curb the proliferation of illegal weapons, and deliberate efforts to tackle poverty, unemployment and youth radicalisation.

According to him, sustainable peace requires governments to address the underlying causes of conflict while strengthening institutions, ensuring accountability, building public trust and promoting inclusive development.

The governor commended the Department of State Services (DSS), Plateau State Command, for its intelligence-gathering efforts and professional approach to the prevailing security situation. He emphasised that timely intelligence, inter-agency cooperation and responsible communication were critical to protecting vulnerable communities and restoring public confidence.

He called for a shift from reactive interventions to preventive strategies capable of addressing the conditions that allow conflicts to emerge and escalate.

In his remarks, the Commandant of NISS, J. O. Odama, commended Mutfwang for his presentation, expressing confidence that the insights shared would deepen participants’ understanding of Nigeria’s security challenges and strengthen their capacity to develop practical and sustainable crisis-management strategies.

The statement was issued by Gyang Bere, PhD, Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Plateau State Governor, on October 13, 2026.

Mutfwang Advocates Intelligence-Led, Preventive Strategies to Tackle Insecurity in Nigeria