Security is My Top Priority: Yilchini Jan Bida Rtd.
The Retired Navy Commander and APC stalwart on the Plateau, Yilchini Jan, has reiterated his commitment to the security of the people of Bokkos and Plateau State.
Yilchini was the chairman of the 2026 NAHAWAI Annual Cultural Festival of Butura, an annual event of the Butura District of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. He is an aspirant for the governorship of Plateau State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Interacting with journalists, the governorship hopeful outlined some of his plans for security and a peaceful Plateau State, if given the mandate to lead the state.
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The military veteran said, “We must be deliberate about the security of our people; it should be both personal and collective. In my perspective, there will be community-based recruitment. People from their communities know their communities better than outsiders, and if you are engaged in the security of your community, you will do so well.
“If I become governor, I will adopt this approach to ensure secured communities for our people,” Yilchini said.
He said he was in Hurti, one of the communities in Bokkos, which faced an unprovoked attack. “That attack brought a lot of emotions to me,” he stated.
“My discovery shows that there is no mobile network in that place, and it is very unfortunate. For effective security network, mobile network is very critical, and that will be one of my blueprints if elected governor. We will ensure network connection in the hinterland.”
He added that the community and other communities in the local government are without access to motorable roads. “We will link up several villages with road networks in the state because I have discovered that there is a particular pattern of attacks in the state.
“What the marauders do is identify vulnerable communities with poor roads and mobile networks and other infrastructure, then launch an attack, and reaching such areas by the security forces becomes impossible.”
Another aspect he intends to leverage on is CCTV. “We will mount these cameras in some strategic locations in the state. One thing that bothers me is how I will spend four years on the seat of governor and cannot identify the faces of those attacking our people.
“I’m ready and determined to decisively deal with those criminals. Even if it is my brother, he will be brought to book. Nobody will be spared. God values every soul on the Plateau, and we equally value each soul too.”
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, FEBRUARY 23RD 2026)
