For nearly two weeks, Plateau State experienced what many residents described as a rare period of relative calm as political parties across Nigeria conducted their primaries for elective positions ahead of the next general elections.
From the presidential race to contests for seats in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly, politicians and party faithful were preoccupied with campaigns, consultations and voting exercises.
Plateau, a state that has endured recurring attacks, killings and displacement for almost two decades, was not left out of the political activities. Yet, amid the heightened political engagements, incidents of violence appeared to reduce in several troubled communities, offering residents a brief respite from the insecurity that has become a painful feature of daily life.
However, as soon as the primaries concluded, the fragile calm was shattered by fresh attacks in Riyom and Barkin Ladi local government areas, leaving more deaths, destroyed farmlands and renewed fears that the state has once again returned to its cycle of violence.
The latest attacks have strengthened claims by some community members that the killings reduced during the period of the party primaries but resumed shortly after the exercise ended. While the assertion has not been independently verified, the timing of the renewed violence has become a major source of concern among residents who continue to question why peace remains elusive despite repeated assurances by successive governments and security agencies.
