By Ogbeni Olawale Dawodu

A coalition of indigenous youth organisations in Plateau State has accused some groups representing Fulani interests of attempting to discredit security agencies operating in the state, urging the Federal Government not to succumb to pressure to discontinue ongoing operations.

The coalition, comprising youth organisations from Berom, Irigwe, Tarok, Afizere, Anaguta and other ethnic nationalities, made the allegation at a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council Secretariat, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The group was reacting to a petition dated October 5, 2026, reportedly submitted by Plateau chapters of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), Fulbe Youth Development Association (FUYODA) and other organisations.

The petitioners allegedly accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of biased operations and responsibility for killings, abductions and attacks on cattle in the state.

Rejecting the allegations, the coalition described the petition and a related social media video as a campaign to undermine the DSS, Mobile Police Force and Operation Rainbow.

“We smell a rat in the ongoing campaign of calumny orchestrated against the person of the Director, Operations of the DSS, the Mobile Police Force and the Plateau State security outfit, Operation Rainbow,” the coalition said.

It alleged that the campaign was intended to discredit the agencies’ operations and frustrate collaboration among security forces and local security volunteers.

The coalition, led by Amb. Ezekiel Peter Bini, cited alleged attacks on security personnel, including the reported killing of two DSS operatives in Tanjol and Tarai villages in August 2026, as well as the killing of Operation Rainbow’s Operations Officer, DSP David Babale.

It also claimed that the joint operations had led to arrests of suspected ringleaders and helped reduce attacks on communities and destruction of crops.

The group called for an investigation into allegations of misconduct and possible collusion involving security personnel, stressing that its demand was for accountability rather than an indictment of any particular agency.

It further alleged that about N20 million was being raised to finance media campaigns and legal actions aimed at frustrating security operations, but provided no independent evidence to substantiate the claim.

The coalition urged President Bola Tinubu and other Federal Government authorities to sustain lawful security operations and resist any pressure to remove the Plateau DSS director, Mr Paul Damian, arbitrarily.

“Plateau State cannot afford to have its security operations weakened by ploys and strategies of manipulation. The protection of innocent lives must take precedence over every personal, organisational or political interest,” the statement said.

The allegations against the security agencies and the counterclaims by the coalition were not independently verified. The petitioners and the relevant security agencies were not represented in the statement, and their responses were not included.