Ex-DSS operative links Plateau killings to illegal mining, calls for state police
A United States-based former operative of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, has attributed the recent wave of killings in Plateau State to an emerging security threat driven
A United States-based former operative of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, has attributed the recent wave of killings in Plateau State to an emerging security threat driven by illegal mining activities with alleged international links.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Amachree said Nigeria’s security agencies are making efforts but are contending with complex, asymmetric threats worsened by weak local governance and external interference.
His remarks come amid renewed attacks in Plateau communities, including the killing of a pastor, his wife, and four others, as well as earlier incidents in areas such as Angwan Rukuba.
Amachree said the crisis in the state has evolved beyond the long-standing herder–farmer narrative, insisting that it now reflects economic interests tied to mineral resources.
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He alleged that illegal mining operations were driving displacement in affected communities.
“Foreigners are coming into the state, targeting communities sitting on mineral resources like columbite and others. They attack, displace residents, and take over the mining areas,” he said.
He described the situation as a pattern of resource-driven violence, sustained by weak security presence in rural areas, which he referred to as “ungoverned spaces.”
According to him, some local government areas lack adequate policing, limiting the ability of security agencies to respond effectively to emerging threats.
Amachree expressed support for the creation of state police, arguing that security structures should reflect local realities. He cited Plateau State’s move to establish a committee on state policing as a step in the right direction.
He also raised concerns about what he described as the economic dimension of insecurity, alleging that some armed groups operate within a wider criminal network involving powerful actors.
The security expert further noted that sustained military operations in some regions have pushed armed groups to target vulnerable rural communities.
Amachree called for stronger community-based security systems, stressing that local vigilance should complement formal security agencies, while urging the government to prioritise security over political considerations.
