Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has called for communal self-defense following a wave of deadly attacks by suspected armed herders, which have left over 100 people dead in Bassa Local Government Area in recent weeks.

The latest assault occurred early Monday in Zike and Kimakpa communities of Kwall District, Irigwe Chiefdom, where gunmen killed at least 50 people and razed homes. Governor Mutfwang, who visited the affected areas on Tuesday, lamented that insecurity has stifled development in the state.

"We invested heavily in security technology upon assuming office, yet terrorism and insurgency continue to slow our progress," Mutfwang said. "Our people can’t farm or pursue livelihoods in fear. We must break this cycle of violence."

While pledging support for security agencies, the governor emphasized that communities must take an active role in their own protection. "Security agencies alone cannot solve this. We’ve reached a point where every community must defend itself—but within the law," he stated, urging youths to organize responsibly.

His remarks align with recent calls by the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Tosin Ajayi, who stressed that communities must establish a "first line of defense" against rising insecurity.

The governor’s stance echoes past appeals, including those by former Army Chief Theophilus Danjuma, but remains contentious. Critics warn that arming civilians could escalate violence, particularly in conflict-prone states like Niger, Benue, Taraba, and Kaduna, where clashes over land, grazing rights, and ethno-religious tensions persist.

Mutfwang vowed to prosecute the attackers and thanked President Bola Tinubu for federal support, even as survivors pleaded for stronger intervention to end the bloodshed.