CORD OF VISIBLE AND VERIFIABLE ACHIEVEMENTS. One year in office under the leadership of Hon. Salihu Ayuba Musa, the Executive Chairman of Kanam Local Government Council.
His achievements are verifiable, tangible, and impactful, with numerous completed projects and others currently in progress — all well-documented in the official records of the Kanam Local Government Council and in the personal archives of Hon. Salihu Ayuba Musa. These…
PLATEAU STATE MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CHIEFTAINCY AFFAIRS SHOWCASES NYSC MEMBERS’ MONUMENTAL PROJECT.
By Ibrahim Yusuf Dembo. 05 08 2025. The Plateau State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs received National Youth Service Corpe (NYSC) members serving under the Ministry on August 5, 2025. The community development service rendered by the Corpe…
FACT-FINDING COMMITTEE VISITS KANAM LGA TO INVESTIGATE ROOT CAUSES OF BANDITRY.
The Plateau State Government, out of concern for its people, has constituted a ten-member high-powered fact-finding committee to investigate the incessant attacks, killings, and destruction of Plateau communities from 2001 to 2025. The committee’s mandate is to identify the root…
NIGERIA’S DESCENT INTO CHAOS: A Cry for Help.
By Ibrahim Yusuf Dembo. 25th July, 2025. A decade after Lucifer allegedly left Hell for Nigeria, the country is grappling with unprecedented levels of corruption and societal decay. Many Nigerians are convinced that his presence has spawned a crop of…
THE COMPLEXITIES OF FAITH: Exploring the Dark Side of Religion.
By Ibrahim Yusuf Dembo. 23rd July, 2025. Throughout history, religion has been a double-edged sword, bringing people together while also driving them apart. On one hand, it has been a source of comfort, solace, and inspiration for countless individuals. On…
Bassa is a Local Government Area in northern Plateau State, Nigeria, bordering Kaduna and Bauchi States. Its headquarters are located in Bassa town at 9°56′00″N 8°44′00″E, covering an area of 1,743 km² with smaller towns like Miango, Mc Alley (originally Biciza), Jengre, and villages such as Binchin, Zukku, Kwal, Saya, and Gurum, among others.
According to the 2006 census, the population stands at 186,859. The Bassa local government area hosts the Nigerian Army’s 3rd Armored Division, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, alongside a police station and a First Bank of Nigeria branch.Despite the presence of the Nigerian Army’s 3rd Armored Division, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, terrorists seem to operate freely within the area, carrying out attacks without interference from the army base.
A recent attack in the Zike and Kimakpa communities, barely five kilometers from the cantonment, resulted in over 40 deaths, with no response from the army facilities. Sadly, attacks are frequent in Bassa, often claiming one or two lives daily, but these incidents rarely garner media attention unless the death toll is higher.
The proximity of the 3rd Armored Division Maxwell Khobe Cantonment to the affected communities raises questions about the facility’s effectiveness. With the Nigerian Army’s welfare funded by public funds, contributed to by the people of Bassa, the lack of response to distress calls is concerning. If the army barracks in Bassa can’t protect its residents, the facility’s presence seems futile.
It’s striking that the roadblocks set up by the Nigerian Army seem designed to target civilians. I’ve personally witnessed soldiers cutting off a young man’s dreadlocks at a checkpoint, deeming his hair ‘unkept’ and suspicious. This raises concerns about their priorities and response protocols.
Now the question is, If two civilians were fighting, would the soldier intervene without orders from a superior officer? Would they wait for instructions to disarm a suspect carrying an AK-47 at a checkpoint? The apparent lack of proactive measures is troubling, especially when contrasted with the vulnerability of innocent civilians to terrorist attacks.
The silence and inaction in the face of danger are starkly different from the swift and deadly attacks carried out by terrorists under the cover of night. The contrast between the army’s seeming paralysis and the terrorists’ brutality is jarring, leaving many to wonder about the effectiveness of our security apparatus who are duly maintained and paid with our funds.
KEY ISSUES:
-Insecurity: Frequent attacks in Bassa LGA, often with minimal media coverage.-Army Response: Questionable effectiveness of the 3rd Armored Division Maxwell Khobe Cantonment in responding to attacks.-Public Funding: Nigerian Army’s welfare funded by public funds, including contributions from Bassa residents.
“Let’s focus on finding solutions to these pressing issues. It’s not a communal clash but it’s genocidal and land grabbing.” – Plateau People.
