BEYOND A 24-HOUR CURFEW: A TEST OF GOVERNANCE AND SECURITY IN Plateau State
The recent attacks in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North, have once again exposed the fragile fault lines in our security architecture. While the imposition of curfews may serve as an immediate containment mechanism, it is, at best, a short-term administrative response—not a solution.
His Excellency, Caleb Mutfwang, alongside Nigeria’s security operatives, must recognize that the situation has moved beyond reactive control to requiring deliberate, intelligence-driven enforcement and accountability.
At the center of public concern is Sharfadeen Bature, identified as a prime suspect linked to threats and subsequent violence. Reports indicate that prior warnings were issued publicly before the attacks. Notably, this aligns with earlier alarm raised in a publication by Daily Post Nigeria (February 27, 2026), where residents highlighted imminent threats tied to the Ramadan period.
If indeed such threats were made in advance as documented, then this is no longer just a security lapse; it raises critical questions under established security and governance frameworks:
- Failure of Preventive Intelligence (Pre-Event Failure)
According to Routine Activity Theory and Preventive Policing Models, when a motivated offender communicates intent publicly, the responsibility shifts to the state to:
Monitor,
Investigate,
Neutralize the threat before execution.
A professional security system would have:
Flagged the threat through digital surveillance and intelligence units,
Invited or apprehended the individual for questioning,
Deployed preventive security presence in identified hotspots.
- Breakdown of Deterrence Theory
Deterrence Theory posits that crime is reduced when punishment is certain, swift, and severe.
Failure to act on open threats erodes public confidence and emboldens perpetrators.
A responsible government would have:
Publicly acknowledged the threat,
Demonstrated visible action (arrest or investigation),
Sent a clear signal that threats; especially those tied to communal violence carry immediate consequences.
- Institutional Accountability and Trust Deficit
When threats are ignored and later executed, it creates a dangerous perception of complicity or negligence. This is particularly sensitive in conflict-prone regions like Plateau.
A professional investigative process would include:
Digital forensics to trace the origin and spread of the threat message,
Immediate detention and interrogation of the suspect and associates,
Transparent communication with the public on findings,
Prosecution under relevant criminal and anti-terrorism laws.
The Core Demand
On this basis, well-meaning citizens of Plateau State are justified in demanding:
Immediate arrest of Sharfadeen Bature
A transparent and independent investigation
Identification and prosecution of all collaborators and sponsors
Bottom Line
Security is not measured by curfews—it is measured by prevention, accountability, and justice.
If individuals can issue threats publicly and execute them without consequence, then the system is not just weak—it is failing its primary duty.
The people of Plateau deserve more than temporary restrictions.
They deserve a system that works.
By
Machief Ayuba Mallo
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