The latest attack in Jos on Sunday, March 29, 2026, once again exposed the fragile security architecture in Plateau State. Suspected Islamist terrorists launched coordinated assaults on an unsuspecting crowd of young people in Angwan Rukuba, Jos. About 30 deaths were recorded, with many more injured. The scale and brazenness of the attack underlined persistent intelligence and response gaps.

President Bola Tinubu’s subsequent visit four days later was both symbolic and strategic—aimed at calming tensions, demonstrating federal presence, and reassuring grieving citizens. His promise that such an attack “won’t repeat itself”, though reassuring, raised urgent questions about implementation, given the recurring nature of such violence and government promises which are never kept.

This tragedy is far from isolated. Plateau State has endured a grim cycle of violence stretching back decades—from the sectarian clashes of the early 2000s to more recent rural massacres often attributed to armed Fulani militias seeking to drive indigenous people off their lands to take them over. Entire communities in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bassa have been repeatedly targeted, with thousands killed and many more displaced.

Successive governments have deployed military task forces, initiated peace dialogues, and set up commissions of inquiry. Yet, despite these interventions, attacks persist. Temporary calm is often followed by renewed bloodshed, suggesting that underlying drivers—land disputes, ethno-religious tensions, and external sponsorship—remain unresolved.

Peace initiatives have failed largely due to weak enforcement, lack of political continuity, and failure to address root causes. Additionally, absence of accountability and intelligence breakdowns have allowed perpetrators to operate with impunity.

To end this cycle of violence, decisive measures must be adopted. First, the Federal Government must prioritise intelligence-driven operations aimed at identifying and dismantling the networks sponsoring and financing these attacks. Without cutting off the source, tactical responses will remain ineffective.

Second, there must be structured collaboration with indigenous communities, including the establishment of properly regulated and trained armed local vigilante units. The Forest Guard, promised by President Tinubu, must be deployed to monitor movements in the forests and farms to ensure early warnings about suspicious presence. These groups, familiar with the terrain, can serve as the first line of defence.

Third, security forces must transition from reactive deployments to permanent, community-based security architecture, ensuring rapid response and deterrence. Fourth, a transparent judicial process must be enforced to investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators and their sponsors.

President Tinubu must go beyond promises and implement a comprehensive resettlement plan for displaced persons, ensuring they return safely to their ancestral lands once invaders are uprooted and served justice. Tinubu must know that his “never again” promise will be taken seriously, and he will be held accountable.

A combination of iron-clad political will, community partnership and uncompromising justice, can bring lasting peace in Plateau State.