Plateau killings: Tinubu talks tough, instructs security agencies to locate masterminds
…IGP, NSA pledge improved synergy to improve security
…Nigerians will go about their businesses without fear under my watch — Army Chief
By Ibiyemi Mathew
With the spike in killings in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State and parts of Benue State, President Tinubu has talked tough on his administration’s commitment to fight insecurity.
While reaffirming his government’s strong determination to stamp out violent crimes and all forms of criminalities everywhere in Nigeria, the President has directed security agencies to fish out the masterminds of the dastardly acts to face the full wrath of law.
He, however, charged the governments of Plateau and Benue States and emergency response agencies to provide support and immediate relief to victims who have been displaced as a result of the conflicts.
President Bola Tinubu also expressed sadness and grief over the latest round of violence and killings in Plateau State.
The President condemned in strong terms the killings and he said he found “very depressing the festering reprisal attacks, needless and avoidable bloodletting among communities in the two States.”
“It is most unfortunate that in this orgy of violence, an innocent eight-month-old baby in Farin Lamba community of Vwang District, Jos South Local Government, died in a conflict she knew nothing about.
“A major consequence of perennial conflict is always the tragic loss of innocent lives. To build virile, peaceful and prosperous communities demand tolerance and forgiveness for every perceived wrongdoing,” the President said.
To rebuild trust and restore harmony to these conflict areas, President Tinubu urged community leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers, socio-cultural organisations as well as the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, and Christian Association of Nigeria to work together to help foster genuine and long-lasting peace.
IGP, NSA pledge improved synergy to improve security
The Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu have pledged increased synergy with other security agencies in order to achieve the goal of the present administration to tackle insecurity.
This was revealed when the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun on Tuesday 11th July, 2023, paid a courtesy visit on the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Three Arms Zone, Abuja to consolidate on the gains recorded so far in the internal security architecture of the nation.
The IGP was accompanied by the DIG Operations, Adeleke Adeyinka Bode, mni; DIG Training and Development, Bala Ciroma; AIG Force Intelligence Bureau, Abdulyari Lafia; the Force Secretary, AIG Habu Sani; the Director, National Cyber Crime Centre, DCP Uche Ifeanyi; and the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
In his address, the NSA expressed pleasure at the improvement the Acting IGP has made towards sanitising and repositioning the policing system in Nigeria; that the IGP put the right foot forward from inception.
He pledged his full support for the attainment of better policing and enhanced security for all and sundry in Nigeria.
The Acting IGP also congratulated the NSA on his well-deserved appointment acknowledging his assurance to ensure national security stability and growth via inter-agency diplomacy and all-inclusive safety mechanism.
Nigerians will go about their businesses without fear under my watch — Army Chief
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja has assured Nigerians that under his watch, citizens living in Kaduna, Niger State, Zamfara state and every other community can go to sleep and wake up around 2 am in the morning and go about their businesses without fear of bandits, let or hindrance.
The COAS gave the assurance on Tuesday when he received the Governor of Kaduna state, Senator Uba Sani at the Army Headquarters Abuja.
According to him, the visit by the Governor has afforded the Army the opportunity to have firsthand feedback on the security situation in the state to enable the army to take strategic military operational engagements in the area.
“We will bring stability to Birnin Gwari, Dansadau and neighbouring communities where bandits may flee to, because we if we do that, we prevent them from spreading to other areas,” he said.
