A deadly attack in Tahoo village, located in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, has left 27 civilians dead after an organised criminal group reportedly stormed the community late last week.
The violence unfolded despite the presence of military checkpoints and personnel under the Special Task Force Operation Safe Haven (STF-OSH).
Professor Chris Kwaja, Special Envoy on Peace and Security to the Governor of Plateau State, condemned the killings and questioned the efficacy of the security forces deployed in the area. “This attack was entirely preventable,” Kwaja stated, referencing prior intelligence reports and early warning signs that indicated a looming threat. “The fact that armed personnel were stationed nearby makes the loss of life even more troubling.”
Local sources allege that military personnel failed to act despite having prior knowledge of the threat. In response, Kwaja has called for a comprehensive investigation into the actions—or inactions—of troops operating under the STF in the affected region.
He also announced a three-point demand aimed at addressing the crisis: The Chief of Defence Staff should set up a special board of inquiry to probe the serial killings, scrutinise military conduct in Plateau State, and establish command accountability, Kwaja urged the Federal Government to withdraw military personnel from volatile areas and replace them with Mobile Police Squads (MOPOL), citing their expertise in handling asymmetric threats and further urged the federal government to back Plateau State’s, Operation Rainbow, a neighborhood watch initiative modeled on the Civilian Joint Task Force in the Northeast, which operated under military supervision to combat Boko Haram.
The Special Envoy emphasised that safeguarding lives is a fundamental responsibility of the federal government. “Nigerians deserve a secure environment. Protecting the right to life must remain the top priority,” he said.
The attack has renewed debates around Nigeria’s national security framework and the growing calls for local empowerment in the fight against insurgency and organised crime.
