According to a NewsVista reporter, the Plateau State Government is demanding the immediate withdrawal of soldiers from security flashpoints, following the killing of 27 residents in a brutal attack in Riyom Local Government Area.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who visited the affected communities on Wednesday, July 16, openly condemned the military’s failure to prevent the massacre or arrest any of the attackers — despite prior intelligence warning of the assault.
“It is unacceptable that with all the security presence, these criminals came in and left freely,” the governor lamented.
In a follow-up statement released on Friday, July 18, Prof Chris Kwaja, the governor’s Special Envoy on Peace and Security, criticized the performance of Operation Safe Haven, accusing the military of ignoring clear warning signs.
Instead of continuing with what he called an ineffective strategy, the governor is now urging the Federal Government to replace all military deployments with Mobile Police Squads (MOPOL) — arguing they are better trained for asymmetric warfare common in the region.
“This attack was preventable,” Kwaja said. “But those tasked with security didn’t act on available intelligence.”
As the state reels from the loss, calls for an urgent overhaul of the security structure in Plateau continue to mount, with residents fearful of more attacks.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, bandits recently killed a retired police officer, Ayuba Bako, and two others in attacks on Farin-Lamba and Dahot villages, also in Plateau.
Stay with NewsVista as this story develops.
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