- Kwaja noted that the presence of soldiers in the troubled areas has not brought peace and normalcy, as insecurity occasioned by continued attacks and killings of innocent civilians worsens.
The Plateau State Government has underscored the need to explore other options in addressing the perennial insecurity in the state amid the failure of the military to protect communities facing incessant attacks by bandits.
The state has witnessed a wave of attacks in recent weeks, which have claimed the lives of many. Over 30 farmers were killed last Monday after suspected Fulani militias attacked a village in the Riyom Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, during a visit to the affected villages on Wednesday, blamed security agencies for failing to arrest or neutralise the perpetrators despite a checkpoint a few meters from the scene of the attacks.
Following the repeated failure of the military to stop the attacks and killings, the state government has demanded the deployment of mobile police personnel in the affected communities and the withdrawal of mobile police.
The demand is contained in a statement on Saturday by Prof. Chris Kwaja, Special Envoy on Peace and Security to the Governor.
Kwaja noted that the presence of soldiers in the troubled areas has not brought peace and normalcy, as insecurity occasioned by continued attacks and killings of innocent civilians worsens.
Kwaja called for deploying mobile policemen, whom the government believes are better equipped to tackle insecurity and restore sanity in the region.
Kwaja noted, “During the Tuesday night attack, the security forces, especially the Operation Safe Haven, a security task force maintaining peace in the state, failed to foil the attack despite their presence in the area.
“The attack was avoidable, given the early warning signs and intelligence reports.”
He said that the Federal Government should, as a matter of priority, consider withdrawing all military personnel deployed in flashpoints and replace them with Mobile Police Squads to ensure normalcy in the affected communities.
He opined that the change in approach is necessary to ensure a more effective and responsive security strategy