Governor Mutfwang Slaps Ban on Late-Night Mining and Grazing After Plateau Weekend Massacre; Vows to Hunt Down Killers as Death Toll Hits 22

The “security trenches” of Plateau State have been placed under a strict new lockdown following a wave of coordinated attacks that left 22 people dead over the weekend. Governor Caleb Mutfwang, visible moved as he walked through the grieving communities of Nding and Ngbra-Zongo today Monday, May 11, 2026, declared that the era of “evil men” operating under the cover of darkness is being met with a decisive state response.

Standing amidst survivors in Barkin Ladi, where a police officer was among the 10 victims gunned down on Saturday, the Governor unveiled a “digital-age” overhaul of local security protocols. Effective immediately, all mining activities in the state must end by 5:00 PM, and night grazing has been strictly outlawed. “Those who take pleasure in inflicting pain will not know peace,” Mutfwang declared. He noted that the new bans are a “technical necessity” to allow security agencies to identify and neutralize criminal movements that often disguise themselves as legitimate night-time economic activities.

The Governor’s visit wasn’t just about policy; it was a show of “Value-Addition” to the morale of local farmers. With the 2027 transition cycle highlighting food security as a national priority, Mutfwang appealed to residents in Bassa LGA where 12 people, including pregnant women, were slaughtered in their beds last Friday not to desert their farms. He assured them that a new “security shield” involving both federal and local operatives is being mobilized to protect the upcoming planting season.

However, the atmosphere in the visited communities remains heavy with skepticism. Stephen Pwajok, Chairman of Barkin Ladi LGA, pointed out a critical “technical hurdle”: a long-closed school in the area is allegedly being used as a fortified hideout for bandits. He urged the Governor to move beyond rhetoric and dismantle these “criminal portals” that have left the rural populations vulnerable.

As the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard Doro, began coordinating emergency aid for the hundreds of newly displaced persons, the message from the Plateau State Government house was one of grim determination. By banning night grazing and underage herding, Mutfwang is attempting a “technical rescue” of the state’s fragile peace. For the people of the Plateau, the success of these measures will determine whether they return to their plows in peace or remain trapped in a cycle of midnight mourning.