Plateau State: NSCDC officer killed in Pushit attack amid curfew; governor reiterates IDP return and peace roadmap

JOS, Oct 20 –An officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps was killed Monday night in Pushit, a farming area roughly 70 km southeast of Jos, Plateau State, local accounts reported. The attack occurred about two hours after a dusk-to-dawn curfew took effect. According to details shared by conflict reporter Masara Kim (@masskeemz on X), gunmen abducted a local businessman before encountering the officer, identified as Deputy Superintendent Distu Garba Audu, who was on a motorcycle; he was shot and died at the scene while the businessman remained missing.

Plateau has recorded a series of armed attacks and kidnapping incidents in rural communities in recent months. Separate posts on X, including one from @Abdul_Ahmad_, have circulated detailed proposals for justice, early-warning systems, land-use planning for farmer-herder issues, an inclusive peace council and support for displaced communities as pathways out of recurring violence.

State authorities have continued public emphasis on security and recovery. Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has stated that facilitating the safe return of internally displaced persons remains a priority once conditions allow, linking lasting peace to infrastructure, rural access, organised mining and livestock development opportunities. A strategic committee report on dialogue and federal collaboration has also been received, with calls for broader stakeholder input.