Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for the North-Central, Dr Abiodun Essiet, on Monday blamed the violence and bloodletting that have claimed thousands of lives in the North-Central region of the country on historical mistrust, land-grabbing, banditry and illegal mining, among other reasons.
Essiet, who spoke with journalists at the State House, Abuja, along with three other presidential aides on community engagement; Abdullahi Tanko-Yakasai (Northwest); Chioma Nweze (Southeast); and Moremi Ojudu (Southwest), said the delegation submitted a unified assessment covering insecurity, infrastructure deficits, and citizens’ response to government policies across all geopolitical zones.
The aides, who all told journalists about their updates during the meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, revealed that they presented briefing to the President on security and development situations in their various regions.
Essiet said insecurity in the North Central remained “deeply rooted in unresolved historical tensions and resource conflicts,” warning that the situation had been aggravated by the activities of armed groups exploiting gaps in local governance and development.
“Our briefing focused heavily on insecurity, and we identified historical mistrust, land-grabbing, banditry and illegal mining as major triggers of violence. The President has promised to strengthen peace structures and ensure our communities are safe,” she said.
She announced that community peace structures had already been established across 121 local government areas, including 32 in Niger, 21 in Kogi and 23 in Benue, with deployment to commence this week in all 17 LGAs of Plateau State.
The structures, she noted, would involve traditional rulers, farmers’ associations, Fulani groups, youth and women in conflict-resolution efforts.
Essiet further linked the worsening security incidents to poor road networks along the Kogi–Kwara corridor, which she said had become a strategic advantage for bandits.
According to her, the President pledged to liaise with relevant ministries to urgently address the infrastructural challenge.
