The Plateau government has expressed doubt about troops deployed in parts of the state, demanding their withdrawal. This followed last week’s killing of 27 farmers in a state that has witnessed the murder of many this year.
In a statement, the government asked that the soldiers be replaced with mobile police squads. Reacting to the development via a statement by Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace and Security, Chris Kwaja, the government also urged the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to raise a special board of inquiry to investigate the recurring attacks “focusing on the actions and inactions of the military personnel” stationed in the areas.
The state government also requested the federal government to support sub-national initiatives such as Operation Rainbow in addressing pervasive insecurity.
“This change in approach is necessary to ensure a more effective and responsive security strategy that prioritises fighting against asymmetrical warfare, which the MOPOL is conversant with,” Kwaja wrote.
THIS is even as bandits have again struck in Zamfara State, abducting over 100 farmers at Jengebe Village in Talatan Mafara Local Council. The incident occurred over the weekend, with the bandits returning on Sunday evening, and recording no catch.
According to reports from RFI Hausa Service monitored yesterday, nine farmers were killed in their farms during the raids. The medium quoted the state government as saying it had responded swiftly to the situation.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Ahmad Dan Manga, said the government was on top of the situation, and would dispatch a delegation to the area. He added that soldiers and vigilantes have been deployed to enhance security.
ALSO, hoodlums on Sunday night invaded Dabagi community in Dange-Shuni council area of Sokoto State, killing three residents and abducting others. The attackers, on arrival, shot sporadically and caused panic among locals before fleeing with their captives.
A post yesterday by security analyst, Bakatsine, on X read: “Bandits attacked Dabagi community in Dange-Shuni LGA of Sokoto State last night. They killed three people and kidnapped an unspecified number of male and female residents.”
A resident, who also confirmed the incident, said the assailants operated for several minutes without resistance, whisking away victims into the bush.
“They came in large numbers and started shooting. Three people were killed instantly, and they went away with several men and women,” he said.
IN a related development, the Kaduna State Police Command has announced the arrest of Mati Bagiyo, a notorious bandit, who had evaded capture for 11 years.
Its spokesperson, Mansur Hassan, disclosed that they recovered a significant cache of weapons from him, including an AK-47 rifle, a fabricated AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, two fabricated pistols, two AK-47 magazines, two LAR rifle magazines, four AK-47 live ammunition rounds, 10 pump-action cartridges, 80 pistol rounds, a machete, two torchlights, and an unjamming rod.
He stated that Bagiyo had been terrorising Kaduna and Katsina states, adding: “The suspect is currently in custody, providing useful information to investigators.”