Plateau Killings: Police Deploy Special Force

BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – Determined to calm frayed nerves and maintain peace on the Plateau, the Nigerian police on Monday deployed Special Intervention Force (SIF) led by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in-charge of operations to the troubled State.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, who is troubled by the recent killings of innocent people in Barkin-Ladi (Gashishi), Riyom, Jos South, ordered the massive deployment of men and material in response to the killings of June 23 and 24, 2018 that left many dead, several houses razed and property worth millions of Naira destroyed.

The Special Squad is mandated to restore lasting peace to the troubled Riyom, Jos South and Barkin-Ladi local government areas as well as other flash points where scores of people were killed at the weekend

Backed up with two helicopters, the Force has in its arsenal, five Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs); three Police Mobile Force Units (PMF); two Counter Terrorism Cells (CTU); and the Police Intelligence Unit (PIU).

Force Public Relations Officers (FPRO), Mr Jimoh Moshood said on Monday in Abuja that the SIF also includes personnel of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), detachment of Police Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD), Police K9 (Sniffer Dogs Section), Conventional Policemen, and Special Anti-Robbery Squads.

He said the team members have started arriving in Plateau state and working in synergy with the Plateau State Police Command to sustain the peace and normalcy already restored in the affected areas.

According to the statement, the police have also deployed Special Investigation Team, comprising the Intelligence Response Team (IRT); the Special Tactical Squad (STS) and the Technical Platforms to the State.

The statement said that led by Commissioner of Police of the IGP Monitoring Unit, the team will carry out a thorough and discreet investigation into the killings and promptly apprehend those responsible.

It further said; “To achieve success in this operation, the team will be proactive and strict in the enforcement of its mandates, Police standard operations procedures and rule of engagement will be fully adhered to.

“The Police Special Intervention Force will ensure the full enforcement of the curfew imposed on the affected areas by the Plateau State Government.

“The personnel of the Police special Intervention Force will carry out twenty four hours surveillance and patrol, stop and search of vehicles, and suspected locations and hideouts of the assailants.”

The PPRO disclosed that; “The Team will also engage in continuous raids of identified criminal hideouts and black spots, with a view to arrest promptly those responsible for the killings and nip in the bud and prevent any further attack, attempt to attack or cause any form of violence that can lead to killings and other criminalities in the affected areas.

“The deployment of the personnel of the Police Special Intervention Force will equally cover communities, towns, villages, vulnerable settlements, government and private infrastructures and facilities in all the affected areas and other flash points in the State.”

The Police however pleaded with traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, the youth groups, public office holders, politicians, opinion leaders, parents and guardians to prevail on their wards and followers to support the police in their efforts to keep the peace and also bring perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.

“You are hereby called upon to prevail on your subjects, adherents/followers, children and wards to support the personnel of the Police Special Intervention Force in the discharge of their responsibilities”, the Police spokesperson said and urged leaders of various groups and communities to support police investigation and allow the law takes it full course, rather than resorting to reprisal and counter attacks.

“Members of the public in the affected areas, other flash points or in any other location in the State in distress or with information to the Police Special Intervention Force and the investigation team can use the following numbers: 07059473022, 08038907662, 08075391844, and 09053872296”, the statement said