As Plateau State faces renewed violence, experts are pointing to past administrative decisions as a key factor behind the region’s persistent communal conflicts.
Speaking in a video shared by Channels Television, the state’s Special Envoy on Peace and Security, Chris Kwaja, traced the roots of the crisis to a controversial restructuring carried out in the 1990s.
Kwaja identified the 1994 division of Jos North into three local government areas—Jos North, Jos South, and Jos East—under the administration of former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida as a turning point.
According to him, the decision triggered significant backlash and strained relationships among communities along ethnic and religious lines.
“As far back as 1994, when Jos North was divided into three Jos North, Jos South, and Jos East—that decision by the General Ibrahim Babangida administration created a huge backlash in terms of how it hampered community relations across identity lines,” he said.
Kwaja explained that the restructuring went beyond administrative convenience, becoming a source of tension that reinforced divisions between different groups.
He noted that the delineation of boundaries intensified indigene-settler disputes, altering what had previously been a more integrated social structure.
The remarks add historical context to ongoing discussions on the root causes of insecurity in Plateau State, as stakeholders continue to seek lasting solutions to the recurring violence.
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