Plateau State: A Beautiful Land Overshadowed By Insecurity -By Happiness Dinchi Dashe

Plateau State is widely known for its beautiful landscape, pleasant atmosphere, rich cultural diversity and welcoming communities. It is a place many Nigerians would love to visit, explore and experience. However, beneath this beauty lies a persistent insecurity crisis that continues to create fear among residents, travellers and visitors.

The recurring attacks on rural communities, farmer/herder conflicts and criminal ambushes have raised serious concerns about the safety and future of the state. Instead of being known primarily for its natural beauty and peaceful environment, Plateau is increasingly associated with violence, conflict and uncertainty.

As a young adult who loves travelling during vacations, I have personally experienced the psychological effect of this insecurity. Whenever I travel and my vehicle enters Plateau State, strange thoughts sometimes come to my mind because of the reports of violence and criminal attacks within the state. Although I try to remain hopeful and put my faith in God, the reality of insecurity makes the journey feel different. The fear is not necessarily because something has happened to me personally, but because of what one constantly hears and sees about violence in different communities.
Recent incidents of violence, including deadly attacks in parts of Jos and an ambush involving a joint security patrol in the Riyom area, further demonstrate the seriousness of the situation. Such incidents do not only claim lives, they also create fear, discourage movement, affect businesses and damage the reputation of a state that has enormous potential for tourism and economic development.

Farmer/Herder Conflict: Beyond the Surface

The farmer/herder conflict in Plateau State deserves serious attention. While there are often immediate disputes over land, farming activities, grazing routes and natural resources, I believe that deeper issues such as ethnic differences, hatred, mistrust and jealousy can worsen these conflicts.

It is important to acknowledge that Plateau State, like Nigeria generally, is home to people from different ethnic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Diversity should not become a reason for hatred or violence. If we truly believe in the idea of one Nigeria and one Africa, then people should be able to coexist peacefully despite their differences.
The question we should ask ourselves is: Why should ethnicity determine whether two citizens can live, work and prosper together?
Differences in language, culture, religion or ethnic identity should be sources of strength rather than reasons for conflict. When people learn to embrace peace instead of hatred and cooperation instead of division, society becomes stronger.

Government Must Look Beyond Political Solutions

There is a need for the government to approach insecurity from the grassroots. Security operations are important, but lasting peace cannot be achieved through military or political responses alone.

The government should support organisations, community leaders, civil society groups, religious institutions and educational bodies that can promote mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence among communities.
Peace education should begin at the grassroots. Young people should be taught the importance of tolerance, dialogue, respect for other cultures and peaceful conflict resolution. Communities should also be encouraged to establish mechanisms for early warning and peaceful settlement of disputes before they escalate into violence.

The government must also ensure that security agencies are adequately equipped to protect vulnerable communities and respond quickly to threats. More importantly, perpetrators of violence should be investigated and brought to justice, regardless of their ethnic or social background. Justice must be seen to be impartial if citizens are to regain confidence in the system, let Plateau Be Known for Its Beauty Again

Plateau State is too beautiful to be defined by violence.

Its unique atmosphere, mountains, cultural heritage and natural attractions make it a state with enormous tourism potential. But tourism cannot thrive where people are afraid to travel. Businesses cannot prosper where communities live under constant fear. Development cannot take place where citizens are more concerned about survival than building their future.
The responsibility for restoring peace does not belong to the government alone. Citizens, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, youth organisations and civil society all have roles to play.

We must reject the idea that violence is the only way to resolve disagreements. We must learn to talk to one another, understand one another and respect our differences.

Plateau State should be a place where a traveller entering the state thinks about its beautiful scenery rather than worrying about an ambush. It should be a place where farmers can cultivate their land without fear, herders can move peacefully within lawful arrangements, and communities can coexist without suspicion.

The people of Plateau deserve peace. Nigeria deserves a peaceful Plateau.

It is time to replace hatred with understanding, division with unity, and violence with dialogue. Plateau State has the beauty and potential to attract people from across Nigeria and beyond.
What it needs now is the collective commitment to make peace possible and make that beauty visible again.