By Nanji Nandang
Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), a joint-security task force working in Plateau State, central Nigeria, has debunked alleged reports of instructing troops not to repel invaders during attacks on some communities in the area.
The Task Force comprises personnel of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Security (DSS).
In a statement on the allegation, on Sunday, Military spokesperson of the outfit, Major Ishaku Gaji Takwa, describes the allegation as an attempt to damage the work the task force has been doing to restore normalcy to troubled areas.
“This allegation is not only false and baseless but a malicious and futile attempt to once again malign the good work troops of OPSH have been doing to restore normalcy to troubled areas in line with its operational mandate.”
Last week, gunmen invaded over 10 communities in Bassa Local Government Area of the state and set over 400 houses on fire.
Over 40 people were said to have been killed during the attacks, which also left several people injured, with 22,000 others displaced.
Reports say, some security operatives who were deployed in the communities during the attacks had told residents of the area that they had no instruction to repel the invaders.
Takwa said, troops cannot disregard orders in response to any distress situation aimed at saving the lives and property of law-abiding citizens, adding that members of the team are drawn from all security agencies, cutting across ethnic, religious divides and under oath to maintain peace and security in the nation and to bring lasting peace on the Plateau and environs.
“It is also important to stress that prior to deployment, troops are adequately briefed on their expectations for operations in realization of the OPSH mandate. Currently, the Commander OPSH has ordered the beefing up of security and increased patrols to safeguard all troubled areas to prevent recurrence of such sad incidents.
“The submission that troops have not been given permission to protect communities is not only false but wicked as the mandate of OPSH is explicitly clear on what should be done in an event of such unfortunate situation in line with the SOP,” the statement adds.
The Spokesperson however appeals to the public to forward any information that would help identify the personnel alleged to have given such an excuse.
While urging Bassa LGA residents and environs to use the phone numbers provided by OPSH to report suspicious activities in their domain for prompt response, Takwa enjoined citizens to cooperate with the security agencies by providing credible information that would aid the security agencies in performing their duties.
Fall out of Renewed Attacks on Communities
AFRICA PRIME NEWS had reported that residents of Gada biyu, in Jos North Local Government Area of the State, staged a protest last week in relation to the renewed attacks and hostility on communities in Bassa and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
Two trucks were burnt around the Gada Biyu area, while residents erected illegal checkpoints to stop and search commuters.
A good number of people residing in Gada biyu are said to be indigenes of Bassa LGA.
Overtime, Plateau State Government has issued statements condemning reoccurrence of attacks on communities in Jos North, Bassa and Riyom Local Government Areas, among others.