Several bandits who have been causing fear in Plateau State have willingly handed over their weapons to the state government.
The Special Adviser to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Security and Homeland Safety, Brig.Gen. Gakji Shipi, revealed this while briefing reporters in Jos, the state capital, on Monday.
Recently, bandits assaulted some communities in Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas of the state and killed at least 22 people while properties such as houses owned by the locals were set on fire.
Shipi, who mentioned the state government had employed both active and non-active methods in handling the situation, added that their efforts to bring lasting peace in the state had begun to produce positive outcomes with the bandits who gave up their weapons.
He stated, “We're all aware of the security challenges that have been affecting the state. And I know our focus most times has been on Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and similar areas. So we tend to overlook some other local governments that have other very urgent security challenges. And one of those local governments is Wase Local Government.”
Shipi noted that Wase LG “has been plagued for some time with issues of armed banditry, cross-boundary attacks, and, you know, some very ferocious crimes that have been occurring there. And so the government, together with security agencies on the Plateau, have doubled up efforts to bring these challenges to the barest minimum.
“So for quite some time now, a lot of active and non-active operations have been taking place in Wase Local Government, and for which today, it has started to yield dividends.”
“So this afternoon, I’m here to briefly bring to your attention the successes that have been achieved in that local government by the efforts of the government and the security agencies that are stationed here on the Plateau. Active operations were being carried out.
“And a lot of these bandits have been chased out from within the boundaries of the state. In the process, some were even eliminated in the course of fire exchange between security agencies, the vigilantes who have played a very key role, and our hunters. And we have had some great successes.
“So, to also create an opening, because the government is not unmindful of the fact that we are not just here to start engagement that will lead to just killings and killings. We also provided an opportunity for talks and negotiations,” Shipi observed.
The governor’s special adviser said, “Some of the criminals and bandits have decided that they’ve had enough of what’s happening and they are ready to surrender. And we started negotiations with them and it has started to produce results.
“So the weapons you see in front of us this evening are some of those that the bandits have turned in. We are still discussing this with them. And we hope that at the next briefing, you’ll be able to see some of them and even interact with them.
“But for now, they have quietly started sending in. You know, this thing takes time to build trust. So I’m sure there must be this issue. If we come out with these arms, are we safe? So for them to show goodwill, they decided to send their weapons out and then we’ll talk with them so that they too should come out of the bush.
Shipi repeated the pledge of the Caleb Muftwang-led government to bring back peace to all parts of the state.
He praised the security officers for their strong efforts in achieving the goal of peace in the state.
“These are AK 47s. And I informed you that because of fear, the bandits did not come out. They just sent the weapons to the person we are negotiating with.
“It’s discussion. So as they were negotiating, they sent these out. So we wouldn’t know how many people gave these. But I want to believe a person is entitled to one weapon. So if we count the number of weapons, there are seven of them, “he said.
