Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has called on the Federal Government to adopt a more responsive and community-centred security strategy following recent killings in Plateau State.
Adebayo made the appeal on Monday during a condolence visit to Angwa Rukuba in Jos, where he met with families affected by the attacks. The visit was disclosed in a statement by his media aide, Ade Alabi, in Abuja.
He described the incident as another painful reminder of Nigeria’s persistent security challenges, warning that repeated violence in Middle Belt communities continues to erode public confidence in safety and governance.
“Our brothers and sisters who are fleeing are now sacrificial lambs for those who want to take away peace,” Adebayo said, urging residents not to lose hope despite the tragedy.
He stressed that moments of crisis should prompt decisive government action, calling for improved intelligence gathering, stronger logistics support for security agencies, and closer collaboration between law enforcement and local communities.
According to him, strengthening community-based security networks and equipping security agencies adequately would help prevent further attacks and ensure faster response to distress calls.
Adebayo also insisted that perpetrators of the attacks must be apprehended and prosecuted, warning that failure to ensure accountability would encourage further violence. He urged Bola Ahmed Tinubu to use the situation as an opportunity to strengthen national security coordination and demonstrate empathy toward affected communities.
Earlier, the District Head of Angwa Rukuba, Haruna Bala, lamented the absence of security personnel during the attack, stating that assailants operated without resistance and left the area unchallenged.
Bala appealed to security authorities, including the Nigeria Police Force, to upgrade the community’s police outpost with adequate manpower and equipment to improve response capacity and prevent future incidents.
He described Angwa Rukuba—also known as Mungaro—as a multicultural settlement hosting diverse ethnic groups, stressing that its commercial importance makes improved security presence critical for protecting lives and livelihoods.