- Lt Gen Tukur Buratai has charged troops in Plateau state to be decisive in dealing with armed bandits and other criminal elements
- He said they must deal with any criminal activities; especially those that are bent on disturbing the peace, killing and maiming people
- The Army chief said criminals must not be given a chance; if not, it will lead to regret on the part of all
The chief of army staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, has charged troops of `Operation Safe Haven’ to be aggressive and decisive in dealing with armed bandits and other criminal elements operating on the Plateau.
Buratai said a situation whereby innocent citizens were waylaid, abducted and killed indiscriminately should no longer be tolerated, NAN reports.
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NAIJ.com gathers that he gave the charge at a demonstration by the special forces newly inducted into the operation at Riyom local government area of the state.
“The Operation Safe Haven should not remain in deterrent position, but you must also be aggressive and deal with any criminal activities, especially those that are bent on disturbing the peace, killing and maiming people.
“You are not here to protect any ethnic or religious group. We are dealing with criminals, we are interested in criminal elements and they must be dealt with decisively,’’ Buratai said.
He, however, charged them to be professional, but combat ready at all times, noting that serious challenges still remain in the state in terms of the security.
The Army chief said that the killings were still ongoing in the hinterland and other areas and directed the troops to penetrate those areas and clear the criminal elements.
“You are deployed here not to romance the criminals; you are to deal with them decisively. Anybody seen carrying arms must be dealt with decisively.
“If you give them chance, then we will all regret it. Therefore, we cannot afford to give them chance.
“You are very much aware of what is happening; people are waylaid on the roads, abducted and kept where it is very difficult to locate them and sometimes, they get them killed. This is unacceptable,’’ he said.
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Recall that NAIJ.com previously reported that the chief of defence staff, Gen Abayomi Olonisakin, authorised the deployment of additional special forces to Plateau to beef up the strength of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), following the killings in the state.
According to a statement issued by Brig Gen John Agim, the acting director, defence information, the additional troops arrived in Jos and were briefed by the commander of the operation, Maj Gen Atolagbe.
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Source: Naija.ng