Plateau Killings: Group Demands deployment of More Troops, Surveillance Aircraft by DHQ; Commends Quick Response, Commitment of OPSH.

Following the recent killings of some people in parts of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau state, a group under the aegis of Association of Concerned Plateau Indigenous Youths Group, AOCOIYOG, on Saturday urged the Defence headquarters to deploy more troops and more surveillance helicopters, operational vehicles and other equipment to the special military task force, Operation Safe Haven.  

The group said the appeal to the DHQ was necessitated by the difficult terrain in the Plateau State especially the crisis prone areas where troops of the military task force were finding difficult to penetrate.  

In a text signed by Prince Rotdunna Ibn Sekat and Secretary, Dr. Pam Davou, the group said, “We are particularly worried with the attitude of political players in the state who are making desperate attempts to politicize our current misfortune. 

 “This unfortunate development has been demonstrated in the recent mixed crowds that stage protest at the government house, obviously to embarrass the government of plateau state thus threatening our national security and mutual coexistence.  

“We are saddened and worried that in time of trouble such as this, where political players are expected to rally around authorities to find a lasting solution, it is rather paradoxically nauseating for some people to seek negative political gains out of our common misfortune.  

“We are determined to note that, politics is not practicable in the face of glaring insecurity, hence it behooves on political players to ensure that peace remains the foundation of our state.  

“The state of Plateau belongs to all of us, as opposed to the notion that it belongs to a particular individual, government, political party, religion or group of persons. It is in appreciation of this fact that we are assembled here to encourage and chastise accordingly going forward.  

“It is the considered view of the organization that, we would not live any stone unturned to expose the roots of every known source or agent of destabilization on the Plateau.  

“It is our resolve to keep plateau state one and united both now and in future and this, we will do with every instrument at our disposal until peace and stability returns to our villages. 

Commending the efforts of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, in the deployment of Special Forces to contend the situation, the group said the CDS “demonstrated leadership and commitment to the values of peace and security in line with President Buhari’s administration policy direction.  

It added, “We cannot successfully commend the major players in promoting security and peace in the state without due acknowledgement of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, who has demonstrated leadership and commitment to the values of peace and security in line with President Buhari administration policy direction.  

“His deployment of a special squad to the crisis prone areas is a very commendable gesture that we have noted with gladness.  

“However, we urge him to continue to do more in the areas of more manpower release, more surveillance helicopters, operational vehicles, power bikes due to the difficult terrain in the state. This will no doubt enhance the revolution needed to combat the recent uprisings that have become a huge concern to all of us. 

Noting that the officers of Operation Safe Haven Jos under the command of Major General Anthony Atolagbe, exhibited high sense of high professionalism in dealing with the situation which promptly brought the crisis to immediate end, the group said the STF Commander, “who has time and again demonstrated tact, professionalism and dedication to duty as well as the deepest sense of patriotism in the discharge of his duties must be given absolute moral support for optimal success to be achieved. 

“We are particularly impressed by the proactive-ness of officers, who are always responsive to security challenges as they arise despite the difficult geographical terrain in the state.  

“Our itinerary in the course of investigation in the hinterlands of the affected crisis prone areas have also identified that men of the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) are always on ground to provide succour to the affected areas during times of trouble. 

“Indeed, their presence has reduced to the barest minimum occasions of incessant attacks as was the norm in the past prior to the inception of this administration”. 

Furthermore it said, “With the presence and collaboration of the Operation Safe Haven officers under the command of Major General Atolagbe, the question of collective commitment to protect security of lives and property of citizens is not doubt. 

“Special commendation must be given to Major General Atolagbe who personally led the officers of Operation Safe Haven for three days in the hinterlands of the crisis prone areas.  

“His presence and direct involvement at scenes, we must note is totally different from the known norms of elitist command style where combat directives are passed down to subordinates from the comfort of cozy offices.  

Emphasizing that notable progress had been made by the security agencies as championed by officers of Operation Safe Haven, the group recalled the arrest of three members of the suspected killer gangs with firearms who are directly connected to the current crisis in Plateau State. 

It expressed the hope that after giving useful information to the security agencies, the federal government will be prosecute them along with others in the fullness of time to serve as a deterrent to others who might have intentions to be used to inflict pain on innocent citizens and destabilize ‘our state’. 

The Plateau youth group also said, “We particularly delighted in the moral support by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai, to the officers of Operation Safe Haven in curtailing this recurring crisis. 

“We urge him to continue to avail his wealth of experience for the Army and conventional security establishment to tap from it until peace and stability is restored to our state. 

Furthermore Prince Sekat said, “During the course of our investigations and interactions with the people in the host communities, the Commander of Operation Safe Haven Jos, Major General Anthony Atolagbe, was also commended for his social corporate responsibility services to the people on the Plateau in areas of peace advocacy, health care provision of food support to the IDPs and a host of other social services. 

“This has greatly enhanced partnership and cooperation and above all enhanced confidence building between security agencies and the citizens.  

“It is the considered view of the people of Plateau for such great gestures to be entrenched via moral commendation and not condemnation by all well-meaning citizens. 

“The challenges of the times are enormous, burdensome, evidently glaring and worrisome to all and sundry who mean well for our dear state” the group said. 

While commending Governor Simon Lalong for his “focus on peace which has always enabled him to be calm even in the face of provocation”, the group urged him to maintain the tempo saying, “We urge you (Lalong) to consolidate on the existing relationship with the security agencies particularly Operation Safe Haven to offer logistics support, particularly in the provision of special power bikes for specialize operations in the peculiar terrains in the state. 

“This will facilitate quick response as already championed by the OPSH team” the group said. 

Similarly, the group commended the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, “for deploying the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Joshak Habila, immediately the attacks occurred to help in curtailing the situation and restore normalcy in the state. 

“Indeed, his professionalism, tact and competence has reaffirmed the standard ethics inherent in the Nigerian Police Force as led by IGP Idris Kpotum” it said. 

Earlier, the youth group condemned condemned in totality, the killings and destruction of lives and property and urges the security agencies to arrest and bring to book the perpetrators of this dastardly act. 

“We are mindful of the mindless attacks in some parts of the state. We are particularly worried about these incidences perhaps, because of course, a situation where innocent citizen’s wake up to the mindless and wanton loss of lives and property at the behest of invaders is totally unacceptable, and must be condemned. 

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