AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI (GCFR), OVER THE RECRUDESCENCE OF SECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE COUNTRY

WHY MR. PRESIDENT NEEDS TO ACT NOW!

Your Excellency;

Permit me to extend my warm regards to you and to also appreciate the Almighty God for entrusting the task of leading this great Country to you.

2. As enormous as this task is, Mr. President will agree with me that there are times that test the soul of every patriotic citizen to speak and to act in order to rekindle hope and douse the resurgence of pessimism.
3. With the current state of INSECURITY in the Nigeria and consequent worrisome loss of citizens’ lives and means of livelihood, I consider it a patriotic duty to as a responsible citizens, to offer some suggestions which I believe would not only address some of the security concerns but ease the tension in the country.
4. Before I proceed, let me state that I am a member of the great All Progressives Congress (APC) and I got elected in 2019 to represent the People of Pankshin/ Kanke/ Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives and by the special privilege of service, I am the chairman of the House Committee on Navy.
5. These I believe, equips me with the adequate impulse, status, responsibility and knowledge to speak authoritatively about the issue(s) at hand.
6. Your Excellency, I have consistently followed your antecedents from when you were in the Army; in service to the country during the Petroleum Trust Funds-PTF era; and when you offered to serve in providing governance in Nigeria; and I am therefore competent to speak about the excellent ways you executed your tasks in those worthy offices.
7. I had drawn the honest conclusion that you were indeed a man with the right experience and pedigree to steer the ship of nation building when you made the move to run for president in 2003. This endeared my support and unalloyed loyalty to you when you ran for president of Nigeria in 2003, 2007, 2011 and eventually won in 2015.
8. Infact I contributed a lot in 2015 and 2019 to secure your victory at the polls. As a student of history, your gallantry in the war against Mai Tatsine uprising; stance against corruption and indiscipline in Nigeria including your meticulous desire to uphold rule of law, were undoubtedly some of the most memorable good deeds that sold you to many Nigerians in 2015.
9. On 29th day of May 2015, you resurrected the hope and optimism of bringing back robust economic transformation devoid of Corruption and free from insecurity via your 3-Point Agenda when you spoke highly about defending and protecting the Constitution and by simple reflection, you swore to uphold the primary responsibility of Government as enshrined in Section 14(b) thus:” the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.
10. You declared explicitly that equitable and efficient strategies would be adopted by all the machineries of Government to end the wanton destructions of lives and properties particularly those associated with the activities of Boko Haram which hitherto had extende beyond the North East to the North Central and other parts of Nigeria.
11. Indeed, and without doubt, you spoke a “language” well understood by the enemies of peace and progress and you were able to subdue them “technically.”
12. You worked assiduously to reinforce due process and transparency in the public service; revived a breathless railway sub sector from the transport sector; engendered agricultural revolution in key productive sectors like the Rice revolution and Potatoes value chain. You did not waste time to focus on the poor and the vulnerable Nigerians hence you introduced the social net programs focusing on conditional cash transfer schemes, the Anchor Borrower program, School Feeding Program, Safe School Initiative and so on.
13. But your Excellency, about six years down the line and having secured a second term mandate from Nigerians, it is heart wrenching to note that insecurity has worsened in the country leading to interrogative concerns by people such as:

• What is Anti-Corruption without Security?
• What is the value of food if farms are not safe for agriculture to thrive?
• What is the significance of infrastructure devoid of security?

The Issue at Hand

14. Your Excellency, the issue of insecurity has reached a point where the current strategies being adopted by your administration have failed and are in no way adequate to guarantee safety. As it is, they can no longer hold water in a cup let alone in a basket. The gaps are becoming wider by the day with serious concerns such as the plight of many school children still in the den of captives; brazen daylight attacks on communities and travelers which have become almost unabated; the recent shameful raid on the highly fortified Nigeria Defence Academy, ( NDA) Kaduna; and the metropolitan attacks in Jos, Plateau State among others. All these have heightened fears of insecurity in Nigeria.
15. Mr. President, permit me to point out some of the factors I believe have been responsible for this:

(a) The recent merger of command and control of the special military Operations in Plateau State extending to parts of Kaduna state and Taraba State code named Operations Safe Haven (OSH) with the office of the General Officer Commanding 3rd Armoured Division, Rukuba, Jos; has failed to yield the desired results when compared to the successes recorded during the pre-merger period.

(b) The abysmal budgetary allocations and releases to the Armed forces and other security organizations leave less to be desired in transforming the law enforcement agencies towards becoming much more efficient and proactive in addressing insecurity challenges in the country.

(c) The poor implementation of the Community Policing component of the Police Act 2020 which I sponsored and was signed by you on the 16th day of September 2020. Questions have been raised as to where the trained civilians were deployed to. What are their current contributions to security in the communities that they serve? What has been the level of motivation for the implementation of the other components of the Act regarding responsibilities and so on?

(d) The silence towards a quick resolution of the impasse between the Police Service Commission and the Office of the Inspector General of Police concerning the recruitment of personnel has created a serious security gap.

(e) The unjust Amnesty to repentant Boko Haram fighters under Operation Safe Corridor policy even when many displaced Nigerians have not been adequately rehabilitated and reintegrated in their homeland is torturing to the psyche of many Nigerians.

On Plateau State

16. Your Excellency, Plateau is undoubtedly a miniature Nigeria. It is the North of the South and the South of the North. You were once in Jos as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 3rd Armoured Division and I have no doubt in my mind that you are aware that the serenity of the State and the peaceful nature of its people is second to none in Nigeria. The State has always been known as the Home of Peace and Tourism.
17. However, the resurgence of killings and mayhems that have visited the state in the last few weeks might have revealed a laxity of leadership at the center in being proactive towards addressing JUSTLY and EQUITABLY reported cases of attacks and threats to lives and properties.
18. It may interest your Excellency to note that I have served as Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly during which I chaired an Adhoc Committee on Peace and Security in the state with specific reference to aggressions and attacks on Riyom, Barking Ladi, Bassa, Jos North, Jos South and parts of Mangu, Langtang South and Noth and Jos East Local Government Areas of the state. Part of our recommendations then, included the need for the establishment of a Peace Building Agency; the strengthening of Operation Rainbow (the state security outfit), and the introduction of inter-religious council for the state which the Governor of Plateau state Rt Hon Simon Bako LALONG have implemented. You may recall that as part of the processes of mending fences and building peace amongst the people, His Excellency Governor Simon Bako Lalong played host to you in the state where you commissioned a Five-year road map to Peace. This initiative was no doubt impacting positively until the recent eruption of provoked violence on the people of the state. While trust, cooperation, tolerance, peace and stability across ethnic and religious divides in the state were advancing, spate of attacks largely on farming communities robbed the State of peace.
19. Today, the externalities of the nature of insecurity in Plateau points to the failure of Your government to deal decisively with the factors that have seemingly become indicative of rising animosity, mutual suspicion, religious fault lines and the dangerous perception of the “them” and “us” syndrome.
20. What are these factors and indicators? Slow response to stem the tides of attacks in local communities like Irigwe in Bassa against a quick response to selected incidences of violence by some security outfits. The non-release of a pronouncement of 10 billion naira by the Vice President during a working visit to commiserate with the people after the Gindin-Akwati, Nghar attacks on June 23rd 2018. The promise to pay the money according to the Vice President was to aid the resettlement of over 30, 000 displaced persons from the attacks.
21. It is thus unfortunate and unacceptable for my people and indeed the good people of Plateau State to continue to experience unprovoked recrudescent attacks on their communities.
22. Whereas the Governor has tried in the last six years to ensure some peace and stability and the Governor has repeatedly solicited for your kind support in logistics and actual security interventions, it behoves on me as a representative of the people to follow suit by reiterating on a general note that the current federal governments’ strategies towards addressing spate of insecurity across the country are no longer effective and have failed to deal squarely with the challenges of banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity.

To this end, only a quick response may avert a calamity capable of throwing the entire nation into unrest. With particular reference to Plateau State, it should even be quicker given the miniature nature of Plateau State. And God forbid that this is allowed to spiral out of control.

Conclusion and Recommendations

22 It will amount to whipping sentiments and only taking the “Donkey to the River and denying it the right to drink water” if I do not draw your Excellency’s attention to what need to be done to address insecurity and particularly restore peace to the people of Plateau State and to also engender confidence in your leadership and ultimately safeguard lives and properties.

But let me reiterate here that His Excellency, Governor Simon Lalong has for the six years he has been in office, been up and doing and has succeeded to a very large extent to ensure peace and security in the three geopolitical zones of the state. But as one cannot clap with one hand, these efforts can be complemented for sustainable peace and tranquillity if the following are put in place:

(i) The parliamentary resolutions on the floor of the House of Representatives on issues of Security vis-a- vis the recommendations of the security summit organized by the RT. Hon. Femi Gbajiamila led 9th House of Representatives, should be implemented. It is my strong belief or instance, that if the Executive had taken the issue of fishing out betrayers in the Armed forces as recommended by the House seriously, the attack on NDA Kaduna might have been averted.

(ii) The Federal Government should without hesitation, release the N10 billion it promised the Plateau State Government to aid the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) so that persons affected by the various crises can return to their communities and pick up the pieces of their lives.

(iii) The DSS, the Police, and the NIA all have the capacity to engineer a robust actionable intelligence gathering and utilization thereby preventing both internal and external aggressions against Nigerian citizens. Stepping up their responsibilities by imposing regular supervisory mechanisms would ensure their efficiency. Failures in combating insecurity through professional negligence should be dealt with accordingly. Infact, at this critical time, excuses for failure should not be tolerated. This will send a very strong signal to the operatives to sit up.

(iv) The erstwhile office of the Commandant of Operation Safe Haven should be restored separate from the GOC 3rd Armoured Division, Jos. This can create a sense of rapid response devoid of any military bureaucratic interference in responding to emergencies on Security.

(v) Any serving official of the Federal Government that has been previously investigated and or fingered in the past or present in any associated dealings with any group considered to be a threat to peace and security of Nigeria should be relieved of such responsibilities. This can create confidence in the citizens to believe and support the government in fighting insecurity.

(vi) Collaboration amongst security agents should be deepened in areas of intelligence sharing and joint operations. There is also a need for strengthening of ties between state owned security outfits with the conventional security agents in the country. This has the potential to build a virile synergy in addressing problems of frustration during investigations for prosecutions of suspects.

(vii) There is need for a harmonious reconsideration of the various recommendations contained in the previous Reports of inquiries conducted by Federal Governments’ Commissions since 2001 crises in Plateau State. Significant areas of the recommendations that could assist towards addressing deep seated animosities among the people should be implemented while those that have been overtaken by events or could further add to the security problem should be discarded.

(viii) A National Peace Building Agency that can inter-alia facilitate and coordinate peace building processes should be established. To this end, I am ready and I will sponsor a Bill to this effect.

(ix) Increase funding for security agents and investment in technology and training would contribute significantly in boosting the capability of Frontline men and officers to deal decisively with crime and criminality.

(x) The issue of grazing routes and grazing reserve should be handled with caution. States that have earlier indicated interest in the National Livestock Transformation Plan and Ranching should be supported while subsidy on livestock should equally be considered.

(Xi) There is urgent need for the deployment of sufficient relief materials to the communities affected by the unfortunate crises and attacks. On my part I am undertaking a visit to all the affected communities to commiserate with and donate some relief materials to them.

(xii) There’s also the need to caution citizens against politicising the recent security threats. I strongly object to the attempt by political jobbers to use the unfortunate incidence to further their political nests by sponsoring all campaigns of calumny against His Excellency Governor Simon Lalong who has done much to restore and maintain peace of the Plateau for the six years he has been in office.

(xiii) More so, I recommend strong collaborations between Federal and State Governments to create jobs, empower youths for self-employment, check unregistered migrants, encourage agriculture, transform local government systems to work effectively and facilitate negotiation for a better Nigeria.

May I at this juncture say that the task of re-building a better Nigeria rests on all of us. But Mr. President, you must show leadership that can drive all of Nigerians towards believing in an indivisible and united country; a land of opportunities; a just and egalitarian society where justice, equity and fair play are the hallmarks.

Let’s not give up on Nigeria & God bless Nigeria.

Accept the assurance of my esteemed regards.

Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi.

Chairman House Committee on Navy AND Member House of Representatives for Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State.

gagdibabayo@gmail.com
08036281229

AFIZERE,ANAGUTA AND BEROM YOUTH (AFIANABER) JOS NORTH LGA TALKS TOUGH ON PLATEAU KILLINGS

PRESS STATEMENT

THE GENOCIDE IN JOS NORTH AND THE URGENT NEED FOR SELF DEFENCE.

BY THE AFIZERE,ANAGUTA AND BEROM YOUTH (AFIANABER) JOS NORTH LGA.

We, the three indigenous Ethnic groups of Jos North LGA, that’s the Afizere,Angatu and Berom.wish to categorically rise against the killings, maiming and massacring of innocent of our brothers and sisters in cold blood within Jos and it’s environs.

We frown at this heinous act of killing innocent citizens regardless of their faiths and where they come from.
Within the period of two weeks alone,over one hundred people loss their lives in Jos North LGA ranging from Attacks and counter attacks.

The Recent skirmishes resulted to the killing of innocent people including the students of the University of Jos.

The Major constitutional responsibility of Government at all levels is to Secure the lives and property of her citizens,but with the killings in Dong and Yesterday’s attack and killing of over 36 innocent people in Yalwa Zangam. Government have not been able to secure her citizens.

We want to state it clearly with equivocation that,these attacks,mowing of crops,land grabbing in Jos North,is being perpetrated by the suspected Fulani Bandits who graze their cattles on our crops, forceful seizure of our lands and subsequently launch attacks. Just Yesterday,over thirty six people were massacred by these marauders in Yalwa Zangam and the brutal way they carried this heinous act,a bridge was destroyed in order to hinder securities access to rescue the community. In this sad development,we are calling on our people to rise and defend themselves within the tenets of law,before we will all perish from the hands of the attackers. All communities should intensify efforts and rijig Community police,hunters and vigilantes. They should be properly equip to carry their duties effectively as well as gather enough intelligence to prevent further unprovoked attacks.
To our greatest consternation, instead of Government to send adequate Security agents to the affected areas,Soldiers and other securities were sent to Angwan Rukuba to molest innocent citizens.
We call on the Federal and Plateau state Government to beef up Security around Bauchi Junction, University of Jos,TT and T Junction,Kunga,Gidan Mai Jegap and other volatile areas to forestall other occurrence.Secondly, Relief Materials should be send to the victims and Community of Yalwa Zangam. Thirdly,The Victims of the Attacked or their families be compensated,those injured and receiving medical treatments, Government should pay their medical bills.All the burnt houses and the bridge be reconstructed. The perpetrators should be arrested and prosecuted.

Sign;

Joseph Arin. Chairman Afizere Youth Movement.
Deacon Moses Dawang. President,Anaguta Youth Movement.
Yakubu Dung Pam, Chairman. Berom Youth Movement.

JOS KILLINGS: APPEAL
FOR CALM

Jama’atu Nasril Islam Plateau State, under the leadership of His Royal Highness the Emir of Wase, Alhaji Muhammad Sambo Haruna, is disturbed by yet another round of gory killings of citizens in Jos north local government area, this time in Yelwa Zangam.

Coming barely eleven days after that of Rukuba road in which twenty eight (28) innocent Muslim travellers lost their lives, this round of bloodshed is upsetting and like other ones, condemnable.

We are disturbed at not only the wanton killings, but the alarming figures are frightening and depicts high levels of callousness, inhumanity and barbarism. We extend our sympathies and condolences to all those who lost loved ones and pray for God to give them the fortitude to bear the loses.

WORD OF CAUTION.

Upon the occurrence of the Rukuba road killings, the JNI quickly mobilized its team of officials with the following amongst its mandate.

a. Mobilise support for
the security agencies
to restore law and
order and rescue of
victims;

b. Appeal for calm
among the Muslim
ummah and prevent
escalation of
violence in other
parts of the city.

The task was achieved successfully with remarkable speed, through cooperation and
collaboration with relevant bodies, most especially the state government and the security agencies, and in particular, leaders of the Muslim ummah.

However, we wish to condemn recent public statements from some religious bodies, especially the TEKAN group of CAN, casting aspersions on the person of the GOC 3Div, Maj Gen IS Ali, who also doubles as Commander OPSH, and the call for his removal.
We see this as diversionary and a desire to take us back to the days of needless confrontation along faith lines, with the attendant consequences to the ultimate goal of attaining piece. We therefore reject such calls and appeal to TEKAN to avoid confrontation and embrace the path of peace.

We need to remind TEKAN that we had lived with non muslim security heads in the state for long and therefore do not see the appointment of a muslim GOC as a threat to peace in Plateau.

In the same manner, the JNI will not cease to appeal for caution and moderation by all leaders, faith leaders in particular, in this trying times we are passing through.

Utterances capable of inciting the people to take up arms under the guise of defending themselves will only lead to lawlessness and further bloodshed. This should be avoided at all costs.

Faith leaders should endeavor to sustain the bridges of understanding built by our worthy predecessors, some of whom had gone to the great beyond, through understanding and collaboration, the fruit of which we are enjoying now; which some evil minded ones are trying to undo.

We should remain focused and resilient in our determination to sustain and leave a legacy of peace for the benefit of our posterity.

JNI remains committed to partner with government and other critical stakeholders in the search for enduring peace in Plateau in particular and Nigeria as a whole.

Sani Mudi
State Publicity Secretary
Jama’atu Nasril Islam JNI
Plateau State.

26/08/2021

PLATEAU STATE GOVERNMENT RE-IMPOSES 24 HOUR COURFEW ON JOS NORTH LGA AFTER ATTACK ON YELWA ZANGAM VILLAGE.

Plateau State Government has reinstated the 24-hour curfew earlier relaxed in Jos North Local Government Area following growing tensions arising from the attack on Yelwa Zangam village of the Local Government where people were killed and properties destroyed.

According to Governor Simon Lalong, the 24 hour will come into force from 4pm, today Wednesday 25th August 2021 until further notice.

The proactive decision became necessary following eminent threat to lives and properties within the Local Government Area and the need to forestall the breakdown of law and order. It will also enable security agencies deploy appropriately to maintain security as the search for the attackers of the villagers continues.

The Governor has appealed to the citizens of Jos North to cooperate with the Government by abiding to the 24-hour curfew commencing 4pm, 25th August 2021, as security agencies have been mandated to ensure that those who violate the curfew are arrested.

Also, the 6pm to 6am curfew in Jos South and Bassa LGAs still remains in place until further notice. Only people on essential duties such as health personnel, journalists, fire service and para-military and others, are to be exempted from the curfew but should carry means of identification with them at all times.

The Governor is calling for calm as he is seriously grieved by the attacks. He again sympathises with the victims, but wants them to show restraint and allow Government to handle the matter to disallow hoodlums from taking advantage of the unfortunate situation to cause mayhem and destruction in the State.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.
25th August 2021.

Zangam village is a nearby village behind the University of Jos, Naraguta campus. The Anaguta youth movement, leader Zangam District, Comrade. Samson Haruna confirmed to Freelance Reporters News that about 33 people are confirmed dead with many houses set ablaze.



Eyewitnesses say the herdsmen invaded the community early at about 8 pm on Tuesday burning houses and shooting anyone on sight. the community says it is the Fulani terror group, the eye witness added

Sources also confirmed the attackers had disabled the bridge leading to the Anaguta community preventing any access to help before launching their terror attacks.

Pictures shows an entire family burnt alive in their homes while others who sustained injuries are being treated in the hospital.

This attack is barely 24 hours that the executive Governor of the plateau state visited the president with the claim that normalcy has now been restored in the state. There are high criticisms from the governor lalong visits to the President as many think differently about the issues the governor presented to the president.

See below

GOVERNOR LALONG CONDEMNS YET ANOTHER ISOLATED ATTACK ON YELWA ZANGAM VILLAGE, JOS NORTH LGA

Governor Simon Bako Lalong is appalled by yet another isolated attack which took place at Yelwa Zangam village of Jos North Local Government Area on Tuesday night where properties were destroyed and some persons killed.

The Governor totally condemns this barbaric act and directs security agencies who have already arrested 10 suspects in connection with the attack to intensify efforts in tracking down the other assailants and their sponsors in order to bring them to justice.

Lalong is furious over the incident which security reports indicate was carefully planned as the bridge linking the village was said to have been destroyed in order to deny security forces access to the area during the attack.

He sympathizes with the affected people and calls for calm, assuring them that they will get justice.

Governor Lalong again warns criminals that they will be pursued, arrested and dealt with, no matter how long it takes, as his administration will not allow the reign of terror to persist and rubbish all the investments made in restoring calm in the State.

Meanwhile, the Governor has praised the gallantry of security forces that successfully engaged and neutralised 6 criminals that belong to a syndicate that specialises in kidnapping innocent people in Mangu Local Government area of Plateau State.

The troops from Operation Safe Haven and the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) engaged the bandits in response to distress calls.

The Governor expressed his deep condolences to the Nigeria Police and families of the Police Officer and Member of the Vigilante who lost their lives during the operation and assured them of Government support. He vows to make Plateau uncomfortable for criminals.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham
Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.
25th August 2021.

Plateau State Governor. Simon Lalong says all those involved in perpetrating crisis in any part of the State, would be prosecuted.

The Governor made the declaration in Abuja on Tuesday, while speaking to State House Correspondents, after he met with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Governor announced that the security situation in the State has greatly improved and very soon, the curfew imposed on troubled areas would be further relaxed.

He said: “What we are doing is to ensure that there is proper investigation and prosecution. You know, both the Soldiers and Police are controlled by the Presidency and right now they are diligently working in my state on a daily basis.

“That is why on the first day, I announced a 24-hour curfew but I kept on relaxing it. By the grace of even this week, the curfew would further be relaxed, so that people can carry out their normal activities. We are the only state that has a peace building agency set up by the State government and it is the only State that for now has established an interreligious council. These are all the efforts that we have done and within a short time, peace has returned to Plateau State.”

Governor Lalong said President Buhari promised him that support would be given to victims of the recent clashes in the State, currently displaced.

“I also made a request to the President about relieve materials and also still re-echoed the issue of resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) We have a lot if IDPs in my State, we have a lot on our hands already and when such happens, you expect the State to seek for support for relieve materials. We are doing our best but the President said he will talk to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, so that attention would be given to those who are displaced as a result of this crisis.

“For over six years now, we have been enjoying peace in Plateau State so, anybody that wants to take Plateau back to those old days of crisis, it is not only me as Governor but all Plateau people will resist that. They have said ‘we don’t want to go back to crisis again, we are enjoying peace and we want to continue to enjoy our peace.’” the Governor added.

The Plateau State Governor used the occasion to appeal for calm and restraint, adding that those calling for reprisals do not mean well for the State.

“Again, I want to appeal to people because most of those who are outside the state calling for reprisal are not people from Plateau State. I am yet to see one cleric coming out to say I want reprisal. I have set up an interreligious committee, which comprises all top religious leaders in Plateau State, both Muslims and Christians and when things like this happen, they address it.

“So for people to call from outside the State for reprisal, I say no because they are crying more than the bereaved; leave us. We are handling our issue, we are doing reconciliation and consultations don’t call for reprisal attacks. If you want to do a reprisal, you are on your own. We have agreed with the religious leaders and all of them are doing their best, they are cooperating with the State and we are also doing our best,” he said.

The Governor said Plateau State Government had since given support to survivors of the skirmish that happened in the State on Saturday August 14, when over 20 travelers form Ondo State were killed.

“When this happened, we had to go to Ondo but in so many places that is unusual, but we took all of them that we rescued and treated and went there with a powerful team led by the Deputy Governor of Plateau State with all religious leaders to Ondo to sympathize with the State. Their Governor also said they will also send a team to come and appreciate what we have done.

“The remaining things we need to do are to continue with reconciliation and dialogue. We are the only state that has a peace building agency set up by the State government and it is the only State that for now has established an interreligious committee. These are the things we did for peace to return within a short period of time but that does not mean that we are sleeping on fishing out the perpetrators of these criminal acts,” he said.

Economic Summit

Lalong said Plateau State was already preparing to host its first economic summit, when the recent crisis broke out, adding that the State is determined to host the summit, so as to confirm that peace has returned to the State.

“While this was happening, we were also very prepared for the first economic summit in Plateau State and we are still ready for that, so that people will not be discouraged from coming to Plateau. If the reason for somebody is to discourage people from investing in Plateau State, we will do our best to counter that and so, we are going ahead with our economic summit while we also go ahead with consultations and harmonization of ideas on daily basis, in order to ensure that we have security on the Plateau.” The Governor stated.

TROOPS OF OPERATION SAFE HAVEN NEUTRALISE 6 KIDNAPPERS

… Recover weapons*

August 24,2021





On Monday 23, August 2021, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) successfully neutralised syndicate of 6 criminals that specialise in kidnapping innocent people in Mangu local government area of Plateau State. The troops also recovered weapons belonging to the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from the bandits.



The Troops in a joint operations with the Divisional Police Headquarters at Mangu responded swiftly to a distress call from the IRT that bandits had attacked the team and took away their weapons. The criminals were immediately trailed and neutralised after a gun duel with the troops.



Remains of the IRT members who lost their lives and that of the 6 criminal gangs were recovered. The troops also recovered 3 AK 47 rifles belonging to IRT team earlier taken away by the criminals.



Commending the troops for their swift response, the Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN Major General Ibrahim Ali has charged the troops to continue the collaborative efforts and sustain the tempo until criminal elements are wiped out of plateau state. He further directed the troops to dominate all suspected criminal hideouts and deny them freedom of action.



General Ali also called on citizens to continue to collaborate with troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN and always provide the Operation with credible security information.



You are please requested to disseminate this information through your various medium. Thank you for your usual cooperation.



*ISHAKU GAJI TAKWA*

Major

Military Information Officer

24 August 2021

One Police officer on Monday lost his life in a gun battle with armed bandits in Pyem district of Gindiri in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau state.



However, six of the bandits were also killed in the gun duel.



Our correspondent gathered that the gallant officer Abdulrahaman Isa Danzakara, lost his live in the evening .



Confirming the incident the Police spokesman, ASP, Gabriel Ubah in Plateau in a statement made available to newsmen in Jos reads that on 23/08/2021 at about 1400hrs, the command received credible information about the activity of a notorious syndicate of gunrunners at Kwoi Village, in Mangu LGA of the State.



He said that “On receipt of the information, the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) based in Mangu, Police Operatives attached to Mangu Division, STF and local vigilante were mobilized and swiftly raced to the area.”



“On sighting the team, the hoodlums engaged them in a gun duel. But because of the tactical operational capability and superior gunfire of the Operatives, six of the hoodlums were neutralized while others fled with various degrees of bullets wounds. “



He also added that exhibits recovered from them include Three AK 47 Rifles with Breach Nos 868, 106076 and 123487.



“Regrettably, one Insp. Abdulrahaman Isah who is the Commander IGP’s Intelligence Response Team based in Mangu and one Hassan Mohammed a local vigilante gallantly paid the supreme price.



Investigation has since commenced and efforts are being intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate,the spokesman further added

Bandits have invaded the Afaka barracks of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, killing a naval officer.



The bandits were also said to have also kidnapped two majors.





Our correspondent gathered that the bandits who attacked the barracks around 1am on Tuesday are still be inside the academy.



A reliable source within the barracks told our correspondent that security has been beefed up within and around the barracks to stop the bandits from escaping with the officers.



“It was a terrible experience, the bandits took advantage of the time when most people had gone to bed to attack the barracks.”



“Right now, the whole barracks is under lock and key and security has been beefed up so that the bandits cannot leave the barracks because it is believed that they are still within,” the source said.