The governor, represented by his deputy, Ngo Josephine Piyo, shared these figures during the North-Central Zonal Public Hearing of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on the National Security Summit in Jos. He explained that many of the attacks were not random but coordinated by groups driven by economic, political, territorial, and religious motives.

Mutfwang expressed concern that criminal networks are exploiting mining sites in Plateau, using proceeds from illegal mining to purchase arms and drugs despite government clampdowns. He lamented the scale of displacement, land grabbing, and the destruction of farmlands—issues that have eroded cultural heritage and weakened local economies.

He questioned whether governments at all levels have truly fulfilled their constitutional duty to protect citizens, noting that security and welfare remain the primary purpose of leadership. Calling for unity, he urged Nigerians to stop comparing casualty figures along ethnic or religious lines and instead work together to confront the crisis.

The summit brought together lawmakers, security experts, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and community leaders to discuss the most urgent threats facing the North-Central region. Leading the delegation, Senator Abba Moro said insecurity in the region stems from multiple drivers, including economic hardship, porous borders, youth unemployment, environmental degradation, and longstanding grievances.

He stressed that insights gathered from the hearing will guide legislative actions, shape budgets, and inform policies that strengthen national security.

The Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives (PIDAN) presented detailed accounts of repeated attacks in communities such as Irigwe, Mupun, Mwaghavul, and Bokkos. They called for protection of indigenous land rights, mutual respect between settlers and host communities, and full respect for religious freedom.

Reverend Gideon Para-Mallam urged constitutional restructuring of Nigeria’s security system to include national, state, local government, and community policing. He also advocated a national resettlement programme to support the safe return of internally displaced persons and to criminalise land grabbing.

The summit, chaired by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, closed with renewed hope that collective contributions will lead to long-term solutions for Plateau State and the wider North-Central region.

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The girls were taken in the early hours of Monday when armed men stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School. During the attack, a school staff member was killed, and the gunmen fled with the students.

According to the school principal, the escaped student trekked through surrounding forests before reaching home late Monday, only hours after the terrifying abduction. Another student, who was not part of the 25 officially listed as abducted, also managed to escape shortly after the attack.

“They are safe and sound,” the principal confirmed, expressing relief amid ongoing fear and uncertainty.

Mass abductions of students have become a recurring tragedy in northern Nigeria, where armed gangs—ranging from bandits to extremist factions—target schools to draw attention and demand ransom. These groups often operate in remote areas, taking advantage of limited security presence.

While no group has claimed responsibility for this attack, residents and analysts believe it is the work of one of the many gangs known for kidnapping students, villagers, and travelers. Many of these armed groups include former herders involved in long-running clashes over land and resources.

The persistent insecurity has been linked to corruption, lack of accountability for attackers, weak security resources, and porous borders that allow for the easy flow of weapons.

For now, families and communities in Kebbi continue to wait and hope for the safe return of the remaining abducted schoolgirls.

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During a press briefing on Thursday, the leader of Farin-Ruwa community, Alhaji Yahaya Bagobiri, appealed to both the federal and state governments for urgent intervention before the situation worsens.

“We are appealing to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to come to our rescue. Many of our people have started fleeing their homes to Kano metropolis and nearby towns due to incessant attacks,” he said.

Bagobiri explained that bandits recently launched fresh assaults on Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving several people injured and rustling dozens of cattle.

Shanono, located about 85 kilometres from Kano city, shares borders with Kankiya, Musawa, and Danja in Katsina State — all known hotspots for bandit activity.

Although Kano has largely been spared from the widespread banditry affecting other parts of the North-West, the recent incursions have raised fears that the crisis is now spreading into the state.

Bagobiri identified the most affected communities as Farin-Ruwa, Kuraku, Gorantuse, Saure, and Shadu.

“Just two days ago, the bandits attacked again, wounded some residents, and carted away more than 40 cows, besides other animals and properties,” he said.

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said the attacks have been ongoing for the past few months. “They have invaded our area about seven or eight times now,” he revealed. “The losses are enormous — we can’t even quantify the value of the livestock and property we’ve lost.”

He added that during the latest attacks, the gunmen stole several herds of cattle estimated at between 800 and 1,000. “This time, they didn’t abduct anyone, but they shot some people. In previous attacks, they used to shoot people at our local market in Farin-Ruwa,” he said.

The resident noted that while the motive of the attackers remains unclear, locals believe their wealth in livestock might have attracted the bandits.

“In the past, we only heard of such attacks from afar, but now they have become our daily reality,” he lamented.

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