Nigerian Police Set Up Special Squad To Tackle Attacks On Plateau State Communities By Jihadist Terrorists

To tackle insecurity in the troubled communities in Plateau State, the Nigeria Police Force has set up a Special Operation Squad which will commence work immediately.

SaharaReporters reported on Tuesday that suspected terrorists invaded over 15 communities in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of the state and massacred defenceless residents including women, children and the elderly.

The hoodlums also burnt down the entire community in a coordinated operation that reportedly lasted for an hour without challenge from any quarter.

SaharaReporters reported on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 that the Plateau State Police Command confirmed the attack, saying that no fewer than 86 persons had been killed with 221 houses completely burnt down during the attack by the gunmen.

The command’s spokesman, Alfred Alabo, had in a statement explained that the attacks were carried out by the assailants in 15 communities of Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of the state.

SaharaReporters also reported on Friday that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, arrived in Jos, the Plateau State capital over the massacre of over 200 residents in 15 communities by suspected herdsmen on Christmas Eve.

The arrival of the police chief in Jos on Friday followed the killing of the residents where the death toll had risen to over 200 in the coordinated attacks by suspected armed herders.

It was reported that IGP Egbetokun would meet with key stakeholders including the governor.

Addressing stakeholders at the Government House in Jos during a condolence visit to the governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, over the recent attacks the Police Chief promised that “More deployment of our tactical unit will be made.”

According to Channels TV, Egbetokun said, “We are deploying our tactical unit to assist you; we are deploying our intelligence unit. When you see the IGP visiting with DIG operations and DIG intelligence accompanied by the DIG of the zone, you should know that we mean business.

“A special operation will commence immediately on the plateau. This special operation will form the nucleus of our special intervention squad, the last time I visited you, I told you about our intention to set up a special intervention squad in ten pilot states in Nigeria and Plateau State is one.

“So with this special operation that is commencing today, we are technically flagging off the commencement of the operation of our special intervention squad.”

“With the cooperation of the people of Plateau, a solution is in sight. I want to appeal to the people of Plateau to cooperate with the security agencies, support them with information, and actively take part.

“These criminals have declared war on our state and we are all going to join hands together to fight this war. We should not see this war as a war against the Fulanis, we should not see it as a war against any tribe in Nigeria, it is a war against the criminals; it is a war against enemies of our country,” he said.