Senator Diket Satso Plang, representing Plateau Central Senatorial District, has called for greater unity among the people of Plateau State following the killing of 24 residents of Bin-per community in Kombun District, Mangu Local Government Area.
Plang made the call during a condolence visit to the community to assess the situation and commiserate with families affected by the attack, which occurred on August 18, 2026.
The senator condemned the killings, describing the loss of mostly women and children as devastating and urging residents to remain united despite the tragedy.
He also called for broader and more inclusive discussions on insecurity, insisting that communities directly affected by violence should be given the opportunity to speak about their experiences and proffer solutions.
Plang expressed support for the proposed establishment of state police, saying locally recruited security personnel would be better positioned to gather intelligence because of their knowledge of the language, terrain and culture of their communities.
According to him, state police would make security operations more accessible and effective in tackling insecurity across Plateau State.
The senator also appealed to residents and stakeholders to support Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, saying the current security situation requires collective sacrifice and cooperation with the state government.
The District Head of Kombun, Gambo Tedmut, appealed to government to provide sustained security support to vulnerable communities in the area.
According to him, youths have been sacrificing their lives to defend their communities but often lack the necessary means to protect themselves.
He also called for improved road infrastructure, noting that poor roads make it difficult for security personnel to access the affected communities during emergencies.
Elder Bulus Dabit, National President of the Mwagavul Development Association, said the attackers were heavily armed and moved from house to house, forcing their way into homes and attacking residents while they slept.
Dabit confirmed that 24 victims had been buried, while some injured residents were still receiving treatment in hospitals.
The National Youth President of the Mwagavul Youth Movement, Kyesmang Jonathan, thanked the senator for visiting the community and urged authorities to intensify efforts to secure the area.
He also backed the call for state police, arguing that locally recruited security personnel would have better knowledge of the terrain and could provide useful intelligence to security agencies.
Representing the women, the National Secretary of the Women Wing of the Mwagavul Development Association, Dalek Nanchin Danjuma, condemned the killing of women and children and appealed for an end to attacks on innocent communities.
Plang, in his concluding remarks, reiterated his call for unity and pledged to support the affected community as it recovers from the attack.
He said the National Assembly had completed its work on the state police legislation and expressed confidence that the process would culminate in its enactment.
The senator also pledged contributions towards efforts to preserve the memory of the victims, including plans to support the proposed development of a memorial site where the deceased could be honoured.
He said such a monument could serve as a symbol of unity, remembrance and renewed determination to protect the community.
Plang prayed for the repose of the victims and assured residents that he and other stakeholders would continue to work towards addressing the challenges confronting the community.
