Plateau Killings: Police Special Forces Comb Communities For Perpetrators

The Police Special Intervention Force deployed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, yesterday launched a manhunt in bushes and rocks within communities in Plateau State for perpetrators of the latest attacks in which scores of people were killed in Barkin-Ladi (Gashishi), Riyom and Jos South local government areas of the state.

The suspected killer herdsmen had between Saturday night and yesterday invaded nine Berom villages in Riyom and Barkin Ladi local government areas of the state at night and slaughtered scores of women, children, including the aged, burnt houses after the killing of the occupants.

The IGP had yesterday announced the deployment of the Special Intervention Force to Plateau State to restore lasting peace in Barkin-Ladi, Riyom, Jos South local government areas and other flash points in the state.

Force PRO, Jimoh Moshood, said the deployment is coming after the recent killings of innocent people in the affected communities and other flash points in the state, with the attendant disturbance of public peace, clashes and mayhem that engulfed the entire Plateau State at the weekend, which resulted in the loss of several innocent lives, burning of houses and vehicles, and destruction of properties.

The Police spokesman confirmed that the team that have started arriving are already working in synergy with the Plateau State Police Command to ensure that peace and normalcy restored are sustained in the affected areas and other flash points in Plateau State. He noted that the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations has relocated to Jos, the Plateau State capital, on the directive of the IGP to coordinate and supervise the operations on ground.

Giving details of the deployment, Moshood said, “Also, two Police Aerial surveillance Helicopters, five Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), three Police Mobile Force Units (PMF), two Counter Terrorism Cells (CTU ) and Police Intelligence Unit and conventional Police personnel from other States have been deployed to the affected areas in Plateau State.

“The Police Aerial surveillance Helicopters and other components of the intervention Force are already in the State. Their arrival in the State has restored peace and prevented further attacks in the affected areas. “The IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police in charge of IGP monitoring Unit to lead the Police Special Investigation Team to the affected areas and other flash points in Plateau State.

The investigation Team comprises the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), the Special Tactical Squad (STS) and the Technical Platforms. The team is to carry out a thorough and discreet investigation into the killings and promptly apprehend those responsible”. He also listed members of the Police Special Intervention Force, to include personnel of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), detachment of Police Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD), Police K9 (Sniffer Dogs Section), Conventional Policemen, Special Anti Robbery Squads.

Moshood further explained that to achieve success in this operation, the team will be proactive and strict in the enforcement of its mandates, even as Police standard operations procedures and rule of engagement will be fully adhered to. He continued: 

“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 24 hours surveillance and patrol, stop and search of vehicles and suspected locations and hideouts of the assailants.

“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 further appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, youth groups, public office holders, politicians, opinion leaders, parents and guardians to prevail on their subjects, adherents/followers, children and wards to support the operatives of the Police Special Intervention Force in the discharge of their responsibilities, as well as implore them to allow Police investigation and the law to take it full course, rather than resorting to reprisals 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”, Moshood added.

Source