The Berom Community Development Association (BECA) has publicly endorsed the push for state police in Nigeria, arguing that such a force could better curb the persistent, violent attacks on rural communities in Plateau State.
At a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, BECA’s newly elected president, Timothy Choji, highlighted the need for a security structure that can respond more quickly to threats in vulnerable areas such as Barkin Ladi, Jos East and Riyom.
Choji explained that the current insecurity including frequent raids, destruction of farmland and threats from suspected terrorists has made it difficult for farmers to cultivate their crops, with crops sometimes being deliberately ruined. He said that a state police force would strengthen community security, improve rapid response, and help restore public confidence in safety.
BECA explicitly backs Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who has been a strong advocate for state police. The group urges both the federal and Plateau State governments to treat the issue with urgency, noting that some legislators, such as Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, and other opponents have resisted the idea, but a state police model could be a decisive step toward addressing the “menace” of banditry and terror in the region.
In his remarks, Choji also called on Berom residents in Abuja and elsewhere to maintain peaceful coexistence with host communities and to rally behind the new BECA leadership.
He emphasized that the association’s priorities now include youth empowerment, economic development, cultural preservation, and, crucially, the creation of state police to protect farming communities and curb the ongoing violence.
