Reps panel pledges action on Plateau killings, to convene security summit

A house of representatives committee has pledged to find lasting solutions to the killings in Plateau state.

Hammed Waheed, chairman of the ad hoc committee tasked with convening a special security conference on the crisis in Plateau state, spoke during the panel’s sitting on Tuesday.

The north-central state has come under renewed attacks by gunmen in recent weeks.

To address the attacks in the state, the lower legislative chamber, on May 8, set up a committee to convene a multi-stakeholder security summit.

On Friday, 12 people were killed after a mob set ablaze a bus packed with wedding guests travelling from Zaria, Kaduna, to Quan Pan LGA in Plateau.

Waheed said the committee is committed to charting new pathways towards lasting peace, security, justice, and reconciliation in Plateau.

“The security challenges in Plateau state have persisted for far too long. We are all witnesses to the unfortunate and recurring cycle of violence that has left many communities in sorrow, displaced countless families, destroyed livelihoods, and eroded trust among ethnic and religious groups,” Waheed said.

“These tragic developments are not isolated, they reverberate beyond Plateau, affecting neighbouring states and undermining national stability.”

Waheed said the committee is mandated to organise a special security conference that will bring key stakeholders —security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, youth and women groups, researchers, and political actors—together for honest, in-depth dialogue aimed at “generating sustainable solutions”.

“This is not just another conference. It is an opportunity for truth-telling, healing, dialogue, and decisive recommendations,” he said.

“Our aim is not just to diagnose the problem, much of which we already know, but to chart new pathways towards lasting peace, security, justice, and reconciliation.”

He said the committee would engage stakeholders across affected communities, identify root causes and trigger points of the conflicts, design the framework and agenda for the conference, ensure inclusion of all segments of society, and produce a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations.

“We must remember: the eyes of the people are on us. This task is not about politics, it is about people and communities,” he added.

Waheed urged the committee members to work diligently to achieve their mandate.