Over 200 Killed in Five Months in Plateau as Youths Back DSS Anti-Terror Operations
More than 200 people have died in violence over the past five months in communities around the Barkin Ladi axis of Plateau State, as local youths support intensified anti-terror operations by the Department of State Services.
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More than 200 people have been killed in the last five months in a wave of violence that has gripped communities across the Barkin Ladi axis of Plateau State, according to a report by Business Day. The killings, which have unfolded amid escalating communal tensions and security operations, have drawn a stark response from local youths, who are now rallying behind the Department of State Services (DSS) in its counterterrorism efforts.
The Business Day report highlights the severity of the crisis, noting that the death toll has surpassed 200 in just five months. Most of the violence has been concentrated in rural communities around Barkin Ladi, an area that has long been a flashpoint for ethno-religious conflict. The circumstances surrounding the deaths point to a complex mix of reprisal attacks, armed incursions, and retaliatory raids, though the specific perpetrators remain unclear from available reports.
In a significant shift, local youth groups have begun aligning with state security agencies. According to Vanguard News, these groups have formally appealed to the Federal Government to deploy more DSS operatives to vulnerable communities. They argue that the agency’s intelligence-driven operations have begun to yield results in curbing attacks. “The DSS has shown it can act decisively,” the report quotes youth representatives as saying, emphasizing their call for sustained federal presence.
The endorsement of the DSS by local youths marks a notable development in a region where security forces have often been viewed with suspicion. Historically, responses to violence in Plateau have been criticized as slow or politicized. Yet the current push for expanded DSS operations suggests a growing perception that intelligence-led interventions may offer a more effective deterrent than conventional policing.
Still, the human cost remains staggering. With 50 people reportedly killed in a single week, as noted in the Vanguard report, the pace of violence underscores the fragility of peace in the region. As families mourn lost relatives and displacement grows, the alliance between youths and the DSS raises urgent questions about the balance between security and accountability.