Linus Aleke in Abuja
A coalition of indigenous youth organisations in Plateau State has asserted that the Department of State Services (DSS), the Mobile Police Force and Operation Rainbow are working to guard weak communities in the state.
At a press convention in Abuja on Wednesday, the coalition dismissed a current petition and viral movies accusing safety operatives of bias and criminality as deliberate makes an attempt to undermine counter-insurgency efforts.
The coalition’s spokesperson, Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, Esq., President of the Berom Youths Moulder-Association and Coordinator of Indigenous Youth Nationalities, Northern Zone, accused the petitioners of looking for to undermine joint safety operations via petitions and social media campaigns.
He known as on the Federal Government to guard the safety companies from political and felony strain.
The coalition, comprising Afizere, Anaguta, Atakar, Atten, Bache, Berom, Gamai, Irigwe, Kunlere, Mushere, Mwaghavul, Ron, Pan, Tarok and different ethnic youth organisations, stated the campaigns might distract safety operatives and profit militants.
It cited a petition dated 5 October 2026, signed by Mujahid Abdullahi, Esq., on behalf of Plateau chapters of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), the Fulbe Youth Development Association (FUYODA) and different organisations.
The petition allegedly accused the DSS of discriminatory operations towards its communities and blamed it for killings, abductions, cattle rustling and assaults on livestock.
The coalition maintained that the allegations had been meant to mislead the Federal Government and the general public. It claimed that joint safety operations had uncovered hyperlinks between cattle grazing and armed militants liable for assaults on communities.
The group alleged that at the least 152 hamlets, villages and communities had suffered assaults, whereas safety operatives had additionally been focused in a number of ambushes.
However, it known as for an intensive investigation into allegations of misconduct, compromise and collusion involving some army personnel.
The coalition urged President Bola Tinubu and different Federal Government authorities to maintain safety operations, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and examine any credible allegations of wrongdoing.
“We smell a rat,” it stated, describing the petition and movies as “ploys and strategies of distraction”.
It urged the federal government to help safety companies reasonably than withdraw them from Plateau State.
