Scores of people believed to be bandits were feared killed on Saturday when they clashed with soldiers in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
It was learnt that the hoodlums were on their way to attack an unknown village around 7.30 am following the relaxation of the 24-hour curfew in the council area when they were confronted by soldiers along the Gindiri Road, leading to the death of many of them.
The Chairman, Mangu Local Government Area, Marcus Artu, confirmed the development to DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS by phone.
But he could not say how many gunmen were killed.
“I cannot not give the casualty figure, but they are many, and this is the beginning of meeting their Waterloo.
“What I was told is that some attackers came out in large numbers this morning (Saturday) and wanted to attack the people but the soldiers repelled them.”
COAS to soldiers: Adopt more aggressive posture against those disturbing Plateau peace
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, on an assessment visit to Mangu LGA yesterday, ordered troops of the 3 Division Nigerian Army and the Joint Task Force Operation Safe Haven to adopt more aggressive posture and decisively stamp out terrorists causing mayhem in Plateau and neighbouring states.
“Go hard on those disturbing the peace of the Plateau and neutralise any terrorist annihilating people and burning or destroying property and other economic valuables,” he said while addressing them.
The COAS, who received briefing on the security situation from the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander Operation Safe Haven, Major-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, acknowledged that the security dynamics on the Plateau are complex owning to its political background, interwoven with cultural and economic sentiments.
These, he added, accounted for the prolonged duration of the conflicts and the escalation in its lethality.
Gen. Lagbaja inspected the arms and ammunition recovered by the troops and commended them for not allowing the crisis to escalate to other parts of the state.
He was confident that the troops would be more resilient and leave no stone unturned in ensuring that peace and tranquility is restored on the Plateau and other troubled parts of the country.
He charged the troops to live up to the expectations of all peace loving and law abiding residents of the Plateau, harping that trust is earned and the troops must do all within their means to maintain the trust of the people they are tasked to protect.
Lagbaja, who seized the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on Governor Mutfwang, expressed appreciation to the government and people of Plateau State for their effort in ensuring that peace reigns in the state.
He said a marching order had been handed down to troops to sternly enforce law and order and to be decisive in tackling the security situation on the Plateau.
