The Northern Christian Association (NCA) has called for a major review of security measures in Plateau State following a fresh wave of attacks that reportedly left at least nine people dead.
The association urged security agencies to move beyond responding to attacks after they occur and develop stronger mechanisms for detecting and preventing threats before they result in loss of lives.
NCA Chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab, made the call in a statement issued to journalists in Kaduna on Tuesday.
Hayab said the latest incidents, which reportedly occurred between Saturday night and Sunday morning across Barkin Ladi, Riyom and neighbouring communities, highlighted the need for more effective intelligence gathering and rapid response.
According to him, five people travelling towards Gana-Ropp in Barkin Ladi were reportedly killed after their vehicle came under attack, while a pastor and another person were killed while travelling to church at Dorowa Babuje.
He added that separate attacks were also reported in Baten Wereng and Ratyidi.
Hayab stressed that the repeated killings should not become normalised, noting that every victim represented a family and community left to deal with the consequences of the violence.
He called for stronger cooperation between security agencies and residents, saying local communities were often the first to notice suspicious movements and other signs of impending attacks.
The NCA chairman urged authorities to establish reliable channels through which residents could share security information and ensure that credible intelligence received prompt attention.
While commending the Federal and Plateau State governments and security personnel for their efforts, Hayab said increased deployment of security personnel could only provide temporary relief without a broader strategy focused on intelligence-led prevention.
He also urged security agencies to thoroughly investigate the latest attacks, identify those responsible and prosecute them according to the law.
The association expressed condolences to the families of the victims and affected communities, while urging authorities to strengthen measures aimed at protecting vulnerable communities and preventing further bloodshed.
