Fear grips Plateau over terrorism threat

Following the continued but undisclosed number of arrests of terrorists and criminals in Plateau State by the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) hitherto known as Special Task Force (STF), the state government has warned the citizens of the state to avoid crowded places but to report any suspicious movement and people to the law enforcement agencies for prompt actions.

An unsigned statement by the Permanent Secretary (Cabinet and Special Services) Plateau State, warned, “the general public to be security conscious in crowded areas such as Terminus areas, Abuja Market, West of Mines, Chorbe Market, Rukuba Road Market, Kugiya Market, Farin Gada Tomato Market as well as motor parks, workship centres and ceremonial events.
“The public is also advised to report suspicious persons and movements to security agencies. This statement is from the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet and Special Services, Plateau State.”

As a result of this statement by the state government, an uneasy calm is now rearing its head among the people of the state because the prospective attackers are not marked or known.

People of this state spoken to said that they were aware of the need to be more vigilant. According to them, the need for security consciousness could not be wished away, advising people that they should not tarry too long in a crowded area.
On October 18th, the Spokesman of the OPSH, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, in a statement, said that the soldiers would continue to arrest members of the terror group and other criminals in various parts of the state.

Iweha added that the arrested high profile suspects had been relocated out of the state for further investigation, explaining that other suspects would be handed over to experts as soon as preliminary investigation was concluded for continuation of prosecution by appropriate security agencies.

According to the statement, members of the general public are still requested to continue to maintain high vigilance especially around places where a large number of persons gather.

Park operators and managers, market unions, mosques, churches, schools and relaxation spots operators are all enjoined to put in place security measures around their vicinity.

In other developments, according to the statement, “following the report of the rustling of cattle belonging to one Sale Bala of Lugare village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area on October 11, 2015, personnel of OPSH engaged the rustlers in a hot pursuit with exchange of fire forcing the rustlers to abandon the loot. The cattle numbering 52 cows and 22 rams where shared into smaller groups to enable faster escape of the rustlers.”

The statement added that the recovered cattle were handed over to Sale Bala in the presence of the Secretary, Miyetti Allah Cattle breeders association in Barkin Ladi.

In the same vein, 14 cows belonging to Nanbol Nimyel of Pinau village in Wase Local Government Area were also recovered from rustlers who carted away the cows at gunpoint.
“The rustlers were overcome by superior fire power in the process of recovery and the cows handed over to the chairman of Miyetti Allah cattle breeders association, Wase branch for onward return to Nanbol,” it stated.

In the same vein according to the statement, troops restrained cattle belonging to one Abdulkarim Adamu which were reported to have encroached illegally and grazing on the farm of one Thomas Chollom all of Rakun Village of Barkin Ladi Local Government area.

OPHS said that a meeting mediated between both parties by personnel of OPSH and the sum of N50, 000.00 only was assessed to have been the damage caused by the cattle and was paid to Chollom by Abdulkarim before the cattle were released to their owner.

It could be recalled that as part of measures being put in place by the Commander, OPSH, Major General Tagbo Ude, to stem the clashes between herdsmen and locals in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas which mostly lead to loss of lives and property, the commander had directed the enforcement of the payment of compensation for the killing of cattle and illegal grazing on crops in farm lands to their owners.

You will recollect that following the Kadunu incidence in which lives, houses and other property were lost and the role played by OPSH to prevent a relapse to reprisal, the OPSH wishes to state that it would not condone any situation in which its personnel and equipment would be the subject of any form of deliberate attack.
“This warning is coming on the heels of the recent discovery and detonation of suspected land mines planted on road Gyambus in Mangu Local Government Council to impede the response of OPSH to emergency situations,” the statement added.