CORN West Africa laments Jos killings, seeks justice, protection in communities 

Ebun Emmanuel — April 3, 2026

The Conflict Research Network (CORN) West Africa, has expressed its condolences to the families affected by the recent resurgence of violence in Jos, Plateau State.

In a statement on Friday, Ms. Lara Raji, Head of Programmes and Operation, CORN, said the recurring tragedies not only represent security failures but also underscore the profound human cost of conflict, one that demands strengthened approaches to how communities are protected across the state.

CORN West Africa, a pro-research, policy and peacebuilding think tank, expressed concern that the security landscape in Plateau and the wider Middle Belt, remains fragile despite efforts to improve conflict prevention.

The Abuja based regional advocacy group, emphasised that the protection of lives must advance beyond repeated assurances toward measurable results that communities can trust.

The organisation alleged that there have been persistent weaknesses in early warning utilisation, operational response, and the safeguarding of civilians in high-risk areas.

“Security is not merely the deployment of boots on the ground; it is also the presence of justice and the assurance of safety, ” the organisation noted.

It added that for parents in rural settlements and young people across affected communities, security must be a felt reality, and a daily reality that they can experience, not just read about in policy documents or news reports.

Recalled that in February, at least 10 people were killed in night attacks in Barkin Ladi and Riyom. By March, the violence had escalated across Plateau State, with more than 30 people killed in Angwan Rukuba, many of whom were from the harmless and vulnerable groups.

Yet communities say they remain trapped in a cycle of assurances of justice and safety, assurances that rarely translate into sustained protection on the ground.

One of the major concerns observed by CORN West Africa, according to the statements “is the recurring gap between Early Warning and Early Response.

“We have it in good authority that communities often detect the signs, rising tensions, unusual movements, or digital red flags circulating on social media and on the streets.

“However, the absence of a real-time mechanism to escalate and act on this intelligence continues to create a dangerous response lag that leaves civilians exposed,” the organisation lamented.

CORN West Africa stressed that addressing the challenges requires coordinated and collective action across all levels of government.

It called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue to strengthen his political will around civilian protection by reinforcing accountability within security formations.

“This should be complemented by an operational review within security agencies to enhance intelligence utilisation and ensure that response mechanisms are swift and effective,” Raji added.

Raji explained that the national assembly’s lawful oversight on defence spending to ensure resource utilisation, is critical to achieving lasting peace in the country.

“Likewise, state governors are encouraged to deepen collaboration with community structures and strengthen grassroots intelligence frameworks,” the statement noted.

CORN West Africa stressed that protecting Nigerians must be rooted in a social contract, one in which safety is experienced as a fundamental right and not merely expressed as a policy objective.