Plateau youth coalition backs SSS, rejects calls to halt security operations

A coalition of indigenous youth teams in Plateau State has defended the State Security Service (SSS), the Mobile Police Force and the state security outfit, Operation Rainbow, towards allegations of bias and misconduct, urging the federal authorities not to discontinue their operations.

The coalition additionally referred to as for an investigation into alleged collusion between some army personnel and armed teams working within the state.

The teams made their place identified at a press convention in Abuja on Wednesday, the place they accused the petitioners and people circulating a video on social media of trying to discredit the security companies and undermine ongoing operations towards armed teams in Plateau State.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Dalyop Mwantiri, president of the Berom Youths Moulder-Association and Coordinator of Indigenous Youth Nationalities within the Northern Zone, mentioned the group suspected an ulterior motive behind the marketing campaign towards the security companies, notably the SSS State Director, Paul Damian.

“The Plateau State Coalition of Indigenous Youth Bodies smells a rat in the ongoing campaign of calumny orchestrated against the person of the Director, Operations of the DSS, the Mobile Police Force and the Plateau State security outfit, Operation Rainbow,” Mr Mwantiri mentioned.

The coalition was responding to a petition dated 5 October, signed by Mudahid Abdullahi on behalf of the 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 teams.

According to the coalition, the petition accused the SSS of biased and discriminatory operations towards Fulani communities and alleged that the company was chargeable for killings and abductions of Fulani residents, cattle rustling, the poisoning of cattle and shootings of cows.

The coalition additionally referred to a video circulating on social media that allegedly portrayed the SSS, the Mobile Police Force, and Operation Rainbow as performing towards the state’s peace pursuits, whereas presenting the Nigerian Army as the one security company working in step with the petitioners’ expectations.

Mr Mwantiri mentioned the petition and video have been meant to distort the state of affairs in Plateau State and mislead the Federal Government and the general public.

The coalition recognized 5 alleged goals behind the marketing campaign, together with intimidating Mr Damian, discrediting the security companies, disrupting joint operations, discouraging intelligence sharing and portraying the Nigerian Army as the one efficient pressure in addressing insecurity within the state.

It argued that the joint operations had produced outcomes, together with the arrest of suspected leaders of armed teams and a discount in assaults on communities and the destruction of crops.

According to Mr Mwantiri, the coalition had documented no less than 152 hamlets, villages and communities allegedly affected by assaults and displacement.

“Since the commencement of joint operations involving the DSS, Mobile Police Force and Operation Rainbow, the Indigenous Youth Bodies and, indeed, all other peace-loving Nigerians have come to be more aware that the practice and sinister motive behind grazing cattle with batches of militants, bandits as well as terrorist elements carrying lethal weapons and attacking hamlets, villages and communities is a strategy of war and forceful occupation of territory,” he mentioned.

He denied that the SSS director or the company was concerned within the alleged killing, poisoning or rustling of cattle.

“To the best of our knowledge, Mr Paul Damian, the Director of DSS and, indeed, his agency, is not involved in killings, poisoning and/or rustling of cattle,” he mentioned.

Mr Mwantiri added that the coalition had witnessed incidents wherein security brokers intercepted cattle grazing on farms belonging to residents and detained them pending the identification of these accountable.

The coalition additionally claimed that armed teams had repeatedly attacked security personnel deployed to shield communities within the state.

It cited an assault on a SSS base at Nding Sesut, Fan district, in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area on 1 June 2026, and one other assault on Tanjol and Tarai villages in Jol neighborhood on 23 August 2026, throughout which it alleged that two DSS officers have been killed and their weapons taken.

The coalition additional alleged that Mobile Police officers have been killed in assaults on Dares and Kwi villages in Bokkos and Riyom native authorities areas, respectively, about two weeks earlier than the press convention.

It additionally recalled the killing of David Babale, an assistant superintendent of police and operations officer with Operation Rainbow, whom it mentioned was ambushed close to a army checkpoint round Rakok village, on the outskirts of Barkin Ladi.

The group mentioned SSS personnel had additionally sustained deadly accidents in separate ambushes at Kantoma and Alohgom in Mangu Local Government Area whereas responding to misery calls from communities beneath assault.

The coalition referred to as for an investigation into allegations of unprofessional conduct, compromise and collusion involving some army personnel and armed teams.

Mr Mwantiri mentioned the video portraying the Nigerian Army as the one efficient security pressure also needs to be investigated.

“The Coalition of Indigenous bodies ‘smell a rat’ such as the one in the video that prefers the Nigerian Army against the transparent and effective operations mounted by the DSS and other security agencies calls for thorough investigation,” he mentioned.

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It additionally alleged that teams linked to the violence have been elevating ₦20 million to fund media campaigns and courtroom actions meant to frustrate security operations. It didn’t present proof to help the allegation.

The coalition warned towards any try to discontinue the joint operations, saying such a transfer might undermine efforts to shield weak communities.

“If Mr President and, indeed, other Federal authorities give in to this ploy or are cajoled into surrendering to terrorists and cunning manipulations of detractors, then let it be abundantly known that there is no hope for peace and tranquillity on the Plateau and, indeed, Nigeria,” Mr Mwantiri mentioned.

The group urged President Bola Tinubu and different Federal authorities to maintain the operations and opposed any arbitrary removing or redeployment of Mr Damian.

It mentioned the SSS, Mobile Police Force, Operation Rainbow and native vigilantes ought to be inspired to intensify lawful operations towards armed teams.

“The protection of innocent lives must take precedence over every personal, organisational or political interest,” the coalition mentioned.

Plateau State has skilled recurring assaults, killings and displacement, amid tensions involving farming and pastoralist communities, armed teams and competing claims over land and security.