The Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, on Tuesday briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the security situation in his state, even as the governor requested from the President relief materials for thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in his state.
The governor’s visit came on the heels of the killing of a police commander, a vigilante and six others by gunmen in Plateau State on Monday.
Lalong blamed foreign elements, who are non-residents of the state, for instigating reprisals over recent bloody skirmishes.
The governor disclosed this while speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said, “I also requested from the President about relief materials and also still re-echoed the issue of resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons. We have a lot of IDPs in my state; we have a lot on our hands already and when such happens, you expect the state to seek support for relief materials.
“We are doing our best, but the President said he would talk to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, so that attention would be given to those who are displaced as a result of this crisis.
“Again, I want to appeal to people because most of those who are outside the state calling for reprisal are not people from Plateau State. I am yet to see one cleric coming out to say I want reprisals.”
Earlier, eight persons, including a policeman and a vigilante, were reportedly killed on Monday by gunmen in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The policeman, Abdulrahaman Isah, was identified as the Commander, IGP’s Intelligence Response Team based in Mangu while the name of the vigilante was given as Hassan Mohammed.
It was gathered that the victims were killed on Monday at Kwoi community of the council area.
The spokesman for the state Police Command, Ubah Ogaba, confirmed the Mangu killings in a statement in Jos on Tuesday.
Explaining that six of the bandits were killed in a gun duel, Ogaba said, “Exhibits recovered from them include three AK-47 rifles with Serial Nos. 868, 106076 and 123487.
Lalong frustrated by Plateau killings, didn’t order suspects bail denial – Aide
“Regrettably, one Inspector Abdulrahaman Isah, who is the Commander IGP’s Intelligence Response Team based in Mangu and one Hassan Mohammed a local vigilante gallantly paid the supreme price.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army dismissed the call for the removal of the General Officer Commanding 3rd Armoured Division, Nigeria Army, Major General Ibrahim Ali, following the attacks and killing of people in Plateau communities by gunmen.
Recall that TEKAN/ECWA Bloc of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Plateau State chapter on called for Ali’s removal over the GOC’s inability to stop attacks on Plateau communities.
But the army in a statement by the acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Officer, Major Eli Lazarus, said, “The call for the removal of the GOC did not come to us as a surprise as the campaign of calumny against the person of the GOC started shortly after his assumption of command. Those series of attacks were indeed precursors to this latest call for his removal.”
However, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Tuesday received 85 indigenes of the state, who are students of the University of Jos after evacuating them from troubled Plateau State.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, announced their arrival in a statement on Tuesday.
