Amidst the ongoing tragic attacks on innocent civilians in Plateau State, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged the Federal Government to grant states the authority to create their own police forces.
This measure, according to the NBA, is crucial in tackling the increasing trend of killings across the nation.
Mrs. Leah Hassan, the Chairman of the NBA’s Jos branch, articulated this demand during a joint press briefing held in Jos on Tuesday.
The conference was also attended by the chairpersons of other NBA branches within Plateau State.
Expressing strong disapproval, Mrs. Hassan denounced the recent surge of violent assaults in the Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas, which have resulted in significant loss of life and widespread displacement of communities.
She said: “We cannot continue to be silent in the face of these barbaric and evil acts of killing innocent citizens and taking over their ancestral lands, making them strangers in their own homes. That states should be allowed to establish state police who will be armed with weapons to defend our communities.”
The NBA called on the Federal Government to implement concrete measures, including deploying adequate security personnel to vulnerable areas and providing communities with necessary tools for self-defence.
The group also called for the swift identification, arrest, and prosecution of those behind the attacks, as well as provision of emergency relief and rehabilitation services to victims, particularly women and children.
It said: “The Nigerian Bar Association branches on the Plateau are deeply saddened and pained by the recent spate of violent attacks in Bokkos and Bassa LGAs of Plateau State, which have claimed numerous innocent lives and left many others injured, displaced, traumatised, and grieving.
“It is utterly heart-wrenching that while Plateau State is yet to recover from the horror and pain of previous attacks, our peace is once again shattered by another wave of senseless and barbaric killings. These acts of violence are a direct assault on our shared humanity, the rule of law, and the fundamental right to life as enshrined in our Constitution.”
She cited the April 15, 2025, statement by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), calling on the government to fulfill its constitutional obligation to safeguard lives and property.
She said: “We adopt in totality the President’s address, calling on the government to uphold the tenets of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly the right to life.”
The NBA denounced the attacks as premeditated, urging security agencies to move beyond mere rhetoric and deliver tangible, effective justice.
“The continued bloodletting in Plateau State, under the guise of communal crises, must no longer be treated with indifference or vague promises. The slogan should no longer be ‘Enough is enough,’ but ‘This is enough – let’s stand up and take action.”
The four NBA branches in the state acknowledged the government’s efforts but urged state and federal authorities to proactively prevent future attacks.
It said: “This is not a communal clash as claimed by some, but a deliberate attempt to wipe out helpless citizens sleeping in their homes at night by wicked men who have no regard for human lives.”
The NBA is calling for: “Immediate identification, arrest, and prosecution of all perpetrators. All arrested suspects should be prosecuted in Plateau State, not relocated to Abuja, where their cases often disappear from public view.
“Deployment of adequate security personnel to vulnerable communities, with clear mandates to protect residents. Legal backing for the establishment of state police forces, equipped and empowered to defend local communities.
“Creation of a conflict resolution and early warning mechanism in collaboration with community leaders, civil society, and security stakeholders. Empowerment of vulnerable communities with self-defense mechanisms and equipment due to the inadequacy of current security forces.
“Provisional of relief, rehabilitation, and resettlement for affected persons and displaced communities within the shortest possible time.”
The NBA reiterated its commitment to upholding justice and peace in Plateau State.
“We shall continue to use all legal and moral platforms available to us to demand justice, accountability, and peace for our people,” she said.
Plateau State has faced a series of attacks with the recent one on Irigwe community, Bassa Local Government Area, where more than 51 people lost their lives on April 14, 2025.
The incident has sparked widespread concern about security in the region, highlighting the urgent need for effective measures to prevent future attacks.
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