A former member House of Representatives, representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, Dachung Musa Bagos, has called for urgent reform of Nigeria’s security architecture, warning that the ongoing killings in Plateau State highlight a deep systemic failure that can no longer be ignored.
Speaking during a media session with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Jos, Bagos criticized the current security response as inadequate and insisted that a more localized approach is needed, "the establishment of state police is the most viable solution to securing lives and restoring justice.
“The most lucrative—in quotes—business for some people, especially in the underworld, is war,” Bagos said. “The lack of peace. A lot of people benefit from that. I can tell you, some people even sit down to plan evil.”
He continued, “If today, the Federal Government can say the EFCC has traced 80 billion that a former governor misappropriated over the past eight years, then how come they can’t trace who’s been killing people in that same state over those eight years? You can trace the money, but you can’t trace the killers?”
Bagos acknowledged the issue was not only about crime but also about the nation’s priorities.
“So the question is: what are we prioritizing as a nation?” he asked.
He argued that empowering state governments to manage their own policing structures would go a long way in curbing insecurity and providing communities with a sense of ownership in protecting themselves.
“I, personally, have been advocating for state police. And I can tell you, once we get state police, part of its structure will involve empowering the locals, the local chiefs, and also empowering state governors,”
“With state police, you will know that in Taroh land, for example, the DPO in charge of that local government will be a Taroh man. The officer in charge of that community will be someone who understands the terrain, who knows the people. Policing by our own people is very key,” he added.
Bagos also decried a situation where citizens who report threats or suspicious activities often end up being punished rather than protected.
“People don’t usually talk because of fear—fear of becoming the victim. I can tell you, there are many cases where community leaders or even youths, when they report someone, instead of the security agencies taking them seriously and investigating, it is they who end up being detained,” he said.
The former legislator also urged Plateau youth to prepare for leadership, stressing that they should not wait to be handed power but instead strive to build credibility and readiness.
“We should not sit down and wait to be told what to do, but rather, stand up and be prepared to do what is right,” he said. “Let’s remain resolute. Let’s be credible so that our elders will trust us enough to show us the way and prepare the path.”
Turning to the media, he challenged journalists to take control of the Plateau narrative and resist the spread of misinformation that casts the state in a negative light. He also reminded the media of its significant role in shaping public perception and policy.
“Don’t let fake news define us. Yesterday I saw a page on social media warning people not to pass through Jos. It was false. These things affect the state’s image and economy.”
“The soldier carries the gun, but you carry the pen, and your pen is more dangerous than the gun. You’ve used it to defend this land before, and you can do it again,” he stressed.
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