Security concerns prompt Gbong Gwom Jos to put Plateau festival on hold

In a significant development, the Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman of the Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs, Da Jacob Buba, announced on Thursday that the 2026 Nzem Berom Festival has been suspended due to the escalating insecurity in Plateau State and other parts of the country, despite initially being scheduled for April 24.

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This decision was disclosed by the paramount ruler while speaking to journalists at his palace in Jos, the state capital, where he outlined the reasoning behind the suspension.

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A meeting of the Jos Joint Traditional Council, alongside Berom organisations and elders, had been held to review the prevailing security situation, which ultimately led to the decision to suspend the festival, according to Buba.

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He explained that although preparations for the festival had progressed significantly, including the establishment of an organising committee and the invitation of dignitaries, the deteriorating security situation necessitated a reassessment of the event's viability.

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Buba noted that the setting up of a committee to organise the 2026 Nzem Berom Festival had been undertaken as usual, but the worsening insecurity in Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole prompted a reevaluation of the festival's feasibility.

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The recent attacks on several communities, resulting in loss of lives, played a crucial role in informing the unanimous decision to suspend the event, as Buba highlighted the gravity of the situation.

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Following deliberations with the Jos Joint Traditional Council, the Central Organising Committee, Berom organisations, and elders, it was unanimously agreed that the festival be suspended, a decision that Buba described as difficult but necessary under the circumstances.

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The monarch clarified that the suspension was temporary, assuring all that a new date would be announced once the security situation improves, emphasizing that it was not their intention to abandon the festival altogether.

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Buba stated that when the security situation improves, a new date for the festival would be fixed, underscoring the commitment to holding the event at a later time.

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The Berom nation is currently in a state of mourning, having lost many lives in recent attacks across the state, and Buba urged solidarity with the affected families and communities.

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He appealed to residents to remain calm and law-abiding, urging them not to take the law into their own hands and instead support security agencies with credible information to aid their operations.

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The traditional ruler confirmed that the newly posted Commissioner of Police had visited the traditional council, pledging collaboration with security agencies to restore peace, and assured the security agencies of cooperation in intelligence gathering and support.

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Recent weeks have seen a resurgence of violence in parts of Plateau State, particularly in Bokkos, Mangu, and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas, where several communities have come under attack, resulting in deaths and displacement of residents.

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Tension has also been reported in Jos North Local Government Area following a recent incident in the Angwa Rukuba community, further exacerbating the already volatile security situation.