In the wake of the Bokkos killings in Plateau State, what Nigerians urgently need is concrete action and reassurance from security agencies, not just repeated condemnations.
Development Diaries reports that the National Security Advisor (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has condemned the recent deadly attacks in Plateau State, describing them as unacceptable and calling for collective action to end the cycle of violence.
Ribadu is right to call the killings ‘unacceptable’. But beyond condemnation, Nigerians need accountability, prevention, and justice.
The recent massacre in Bokkos is yet another grim reminder of a recurring tragedy that Nigerians have grown too familiar with.
These are not just numbers but are mothers, children, farmers, and breadwinners whose deaths should spark real, systemic change.
The NSA claimed that violent deaths have dropped by over 90 percent in the last ten months. While this may be statistically accurate in aggregate, 50 deaths in a single attack show how numbers can mask the intensity and trauma of localised violence.
One incident like this undermines the trust communities have in the promise of peace.
Let us be clear, these are not random crimes, as they are calculated acts of terror aimed at displacing people, stealing land, and disrupting livelihoods.
The Plateau State government should focus on strengthening community-led security and early-warning systems. Communities should not be left to wait helplessly for the next attack.
Vigilance groups, properly trained and integrated into state security efforts, can play a decisive role in prevention.
Development Diaries calls on the NSA to work towards bolstering the deployment of resources, personnel, and intelligence in banditry-prone and vulnerable regions, not just in Plateau State, but across the country.
Photo source: Nuhu Ribadu
