Plateau Attacks: Police Boss Orders Fresh Coordinated Response To Protect Citizens

By Frank Oshanugor

Arising from the ferocity and audacious manner innocent citizens of Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State were attacked in the early hours of Saturday, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the immediate deployment of Police Intervention Team to the State.

AtlanticNewsonline gathered that the move was aimed at carrying out on-the-spot assessment and ensure enhanced, coordinated response to protect the community and boost public confidence in the affected area(s) of the State.

Nigeria Police Force spokesman Frank Mba; a Commissioner of Police in a statement on Sunday morning said “the Police Intervention Team is led by Sanusi Lemu, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Finance and Administration who is also the coordinating DIG, North-Central geo-political zone.

According to him, “the Team comprises personnel of Police Tactical Units – the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Special Forces, amongst others deployed to protect the communities, prevent further attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice. Also deployed are investigators and covert operatives from the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) and the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB). The operatives are expected to provide additional investigative, intelligence and forensic support to the Plateau State Police Command in the ongoing investigations and rescue operations.”

The statement said further that “the IGP while condemning the incident, has called for calm and assured victims and relatives of the attack that the Police are working with the military, other security forces and the State Government to ensure that all perpetrators of the unfortunate incident are brought to book.”

Meanwhile, the IGP noted that twenty (20) suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack while thirty-three (33) victims have been rescued. Number of dead victims were however not given yet but unofficial sources put in scores.

The police boss enjoined citizens in the affected area(s) to support the security forces deployed to the hotspot by providing useful information that will lead to the arrest of other perpetrators of the crime and forestall any further attack.