*Over 30 gunmen killed in fierce clash with soldiers
Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, has ordered troops to adopt a more aggressive posture against terrorists causing mayhem in Plateau and contiguous states.
Lagbaja has also pledged the readiness of the Army Headquarters to address deployment gaps in Plateau State, promising also that the soldiers deployed to the state would impartially discharge their constitutional responsibility for the sake of peace and unity.
This is coming as at least 30 gunmen have been neutralised by troops of Operation Hakorin Damisa, and several others arrested with ammunition when the gunmen allegedly took advantage of the relaxation of the 24-hour curfew imposed on the Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) to attempt an attack on the people.
General Lagbaja, who made the pledge while on an official visit to the governor of the state, Mr. Caleb Mutfwang, also disclosed that the Army Headquarters had mobilised special forces from across the country to Plateau State overnight, adding that he was in the state to give marching orders to the troops.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement issued yesterday, said the Army Chief was in the state where he urged the troops to go hard on the terrorists.
The statement read, “The COAS ordered troops of the 3 Division Nigerian Army and the Joint Task Force Operation Safe Haven to adopt a more aggressive posture and decisively stamp out terrorists causing mayhem in Plateau and contiguous states.
“Gen Lagbaja was on an operational tour to Plateau, following a recent disruption of peace in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
“The Army Chief also ordered troops to go hard on those disturbing the peace of the Plateau and neutralise any terrorist annihilating people and burning or destroying property and other economic valuables.”
Onyema also said the COAS, at the 3 Division, was briefed that the attacks were recurring because they had a political background with cultural sentiment.
He said: “The COAS, who had earlier been briefed on the security situation by the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander Operation Safe Haven, Major General Abdusalam Abubakar, acknowledged that the security dynamics on the Plateau are complex due to its political background, interwoven with cultural and economic sentiments.
“These he added, account for the prolonged duration of the conflicts and the escalation in its lethality. Gen Lagbaja inspected the arms and ammunition recovered by the troops and commended them for not allowing the crisis to escalate to other parts of the state.”
He noted that Lagbaja, notwithstanding, charged the troops to live up to the expectations of all peace-loving and law-abiding residents of the Plateau.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, dutiful, responsive, and responsible, adding, however, that the full weight of the law would be brought down on any personnel found compromising.
Lagbaja also paid a courtesy call to the Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
Speaking on the allegation that his men were complicit and taking sides, he said they had investigated the claims but found it baseless and lacking any element of truth.
“These allegations are unsubstantiated and are not true; in fact, even the governor whom I spoke with earlier confirmed this despite initially holding a contrary view.
Responding, the Plateau State Governor, Mutfwang, disclosed that he had never doubted the capability of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in delivering on their constitutional mandate
Sources in Magu said that some soldiers were also injured in the clash with the gunmen which happened at Satguru and Tyop villages before the arrival of the COAS to Mangu.
The sources said: “The incident occurred between 7 am and 7:30 am when the gunmen came in their numbers and started attacking some communities along Gindri road. In no time, the soldiers were alerted and immediately responded.
“About 30 of the gunmen were killed while more than 50 of them were arrested with guns and ammunition. Four soldiers were equally injured.”
