Former governors of Plateau State, Jonah Jang and Simon Lalong, on Thursday signalled a rare political alignment, pledging to work together to confront the worsening insecurity in the state following renewed deadly attacks.
The commitment came in Jos during President Bola Tinubu’s visit, triggered by Sunday’s violence in Anguwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, where at least 28 persons were killed and several others injured.
Speaking at the engagement, Jang described the recurring bloodshed as intolerable, warning that the persistent attacks were undermining economic stability and threatening the state’s long-held reputation for peace and tourism.
He said successive administrations in the state had battled similar crises, noting that the situation had continued under the current government.
According to him, the time had come for political leaders, irrespective of affiliations, to close ranks against what he described as a dangerous trend capable of destabilising future electoral processes.
Jang also urged the President to convene a dedicated meeting with key stakeholders from the state to fashion out practical solutions, stressing the need for proactive and decisive measures to curb the violence.
Echoing the call, Lalong, now representing Plateau South in the Senate, lamented the protracted nature of the security challenges, recalling that the crisis had persisted across different administrations.
He maintained that collective leadership remained the most viable pathway to restoring lasting peace, expressing optimism that a unified approach by stakeholders could yield meaningful results.
The renewed push for collaboration among the state’s political elite comes amid growing concern over repeated attacks in Plateau, with residents calling for urgent and sustained intervention to halt the killings.