Plateau crisis not religious but political – General Rogers (rtd)

For over two decades, Plateau State has grappled with ethno-religious violence that has claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed property. Several panels set up by successive governments to address the conflict have failed to achieve lasting peace. In a fresh bid to end the violence, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has inaugurated a 10-member fact-finding committee to […]

For over two decades, Plateau State has grappled with ethno-religious violence that has claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed property. Several panels set up by successive governments to address the conflict have failed to achieve lasting peace. In a fresh bid to end the violence, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has inaugurated a 10-member fact-finding committee to uncover the root causes of the crisis from 2001 to date. He appointed retired Major General Nicholas Rogers, a former Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), as chairman. In this interview with Daily Trust in Jos, General Rogers speaks on the underlying issues behind the conflict and what the committee hopes to achieve.

 

The Plateau crisis is a long-standing issue that has claimed hundreds of lives. What strategies will the committee employ to investigate the recurring conflict?

The committee’s mandate and terms of reference are very clear. We’re expected to reach out to all communities in Plateau – traditional institutions, farmers, herders, security agencies, the media, market women, religious leaders, and others. Our aim is to hear directly from them about the real causes of the crisis and suggest practical solutions for restoring peace.

For over 20 years, Plateau has experienced serious turmoil. Unfortunately, media reports often exaggerate the situation. In reality, what is happening in Plateau is not as severe as what we see in places like Zamfara, Borno or Benue. The media must be more precise and practical in their reporting.

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This time, we want to ensure that our recommendations are realistic and flexible enough for the governor to implement. We need everyone’s cooperation. We want people to come out, speak up about their pain and challenges, and guide us on how to address them.

 

During your time as OPSH Commander, you were able to restore law and order in some areas. What strategies worked for you then?

Leadership requires a personal style—and divine wisdom. When I led OPSH, I travelled across towns and villages, holding town hall meetings with community leaders, youth leaders, market women, and religious bodies like CAN and JNI.

One policy I introduced during the farmer-herder crisis was accountability. If a cow was rustled in a community, that community paid for it. Likewise, if herders destroyed farms, they paid for the damage. This created mutual respect.

At one point, people in Jos had stopped communicating across ethnic and religious lines. We were able to rebuild that trust by promoting unity. We need to drop the mentality of religion and ethnicity, it doesn’t help us.

Look at countries like China; who talks about religion there? Yet, they are progressing. In Nigeria, churches and mosques are everywhere, but we are deceiving ourselves. Let’s focus on the root causes, show love, and live peacefully. Both the Qur’an and the Bible preach love.

 

People often attribute crises in Plateau to religion or ethnicity. How do you plan to ensure your findings are accepted by all?

The truth is, religion has nothing to do with what’s happening in Plateau. It’s purely political, but people introduce religious sentiments to manipulate the situation.

We also face the settler-indigene problem and the issue of open grazing. When people settle in a place, they must respect local customs and traditions, and vice versa. Problems arise when some groups try to dominate others.

For example, I’m Igbo. If I come to Anguwan Rukuba in Plateau and try to assert authority, people will resist. Just do your business and live in peace. This land belongs to all of us. There’s enough space and resources for everyone.

Why the killings? One person is killed, and another launches a reprisal. That word—reprisal attack—has become too common in Plateau. It shouldn’t be so. We have elders who can mediate. Let’s learn to forgive and forget.

If we truly follow our religions, we’ll show love. That’s what matters—loving your neighbour as yourself. I grew up in an Islamic environment. I attended Islamic school, and our community respected our local Malam, who acted like a moral compass for children.

But things have changed. Today, if you caution someone’s child, their parents challenge you. We’ve lost that sense of communal discipline and love. We must return to those values.

I speak Hausa and Yoruba even though I’m not from those ethnic groups—because I interacted with people. Let’s rebuild that sense of unity. Wealth won’t save us; only peace will.

 

Previous committees made recommendations that weren’t implemented. How will yours be different?

We’ll present workable recommendations and encourage the governor to develop the political will to implement them, regardless of opposition. Some people will like our proposals; others won’t. But what matters is the survival and peace of Plateau.

We’ll all come and go, but Plateau will remain. So let’s do what is right. There may be opposition here and there, but in the end, people will see that living in peace is far better than living in pieces.

 

What assurances can you give Plateau people about fairness and objectivity in your work?

If you look at the composition of the committee, you’ll notice that apart from the secretary—who is from Plateau and will help us access local institutions—everyone else is from outside the state. We have a mix of Christians, Muslims, and even traditionalists.

This was deliberate to ensure objectivity and neutrality. I’ve read previous committee reports; some were difficult to implement. But our goal is to make our recommendations realistic and achievable.

Again, we need the people’s input. We want them to voice their pains and challenges. We want them to counsel us. Together, we can chart a new path for Plateau – one of unity, forgiveness, and lasting peace.