THE Nigeria Police Force has set up a Special Operation Squad which will commence work immediately in Plateau State as part of the intervention to address insecurity in the state.
Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, disclosed this on Friday at the Government House in Jos during a condolence visit to the governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, over the recent attacks that led to about 195 deaths and many injuries.
“More deployment of our tactical unit will be made. 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,” IGP Egbetokun said.
He appealed for the cooperation of the people of the state in the fight against criminals, saying that it is a war that needs the contribution of everyone to achieve victory.
“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
The IGP is in Plateau state to assess the security situation and ensure that the areas affected especially by the recent attacks are secured and protected from criminals.
An attack by assailants on Bokkos and surrounding areas of Plateau State on Christmas Eve claimed over 190 lives, injured many others, and saw buildings and properties destroyed.
The attacks which started in the Bokkos area spilled into neighbouring Barkin Ladi.
Before the IGP’s visit, yet another community came under attack in the same Bokkos Local Government on Thursday night.
The marauders attacked, destroyed, and burnt homes but no death was recorded.