National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Deborah Odekola
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate relocation of AIG Zone 4 to Plateau State.
He also directed the deployment of tactical teams and equipment to the state following a threat of fresh attacks on a community in the state on Friday.
This is coming barely four days after they killed 195 persons in 17 communities across the state.
The police boss who arrived in the state to address the attacks gave the directive during a stakeholders meeting on Friday, a statement by the Force Public Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has said.
It reads, “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun Ph.D., NPM, and the Force Management team have arrived in Jos, Plateau State, to address the recent tragic attacks that occurred in the Barkin Ladi, Mangu, and Bokkos Local Government Areas of the State on December 24th, resulting in the loss of several lives. Upon his arrival, the IGP held discussions with Governor Celeb Manasseh Muftwang, the executive governor of Plateau State, alongside key stakeholders in the region.
“Addressing the situation decisively, the IGP has ordered the immediate deployment of a specialised team comprising operatives from the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counterterrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces (SF), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), and the Special Tactical Squad (STS). Their primary objective is to meticulously comb the affected areas, identify the culprits, and ensure swift justice is served to restore enduring peace.
“Moreover, the IGP also visited Bokkos to assess the situation firsthand and interact with the local community affected by this unfortunate event. To bolster the Force’s response and effectiveness in Plateau State, the IGP has ordered the temporary relocation of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 4, AIG Ebong Eyibio Ebong, psc(+), fcpa, mni, to the state. This temporary relocation is aimed at coordinating the operations, which commence immediately. Additionally, extra operational assets have been deployed to the state to facilitate a comprehensive and swift investigation.
“The Inspector-General of Police has also shown readiness and commitment, in line with the president’s directive, to collaborate with the military in a joint effort to decimate the activities of the armed militia responsible for these attacks. He urged the people of Plateau not to add any ethnic coloration to the incident, emphasizing that it’s the handiwork of armed criminals, as the entire nation has condemned the attacks in unison.
“The Nigeria Police Force reassures the citizens of Plateau State and the nation at large of its unrelenting commitment to diligently pursue justice and ensure the safety and security of all residents. The IGP extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims affected by this tragic incident and reaffirms the Force’s staunch dedication to upholding law, order, and peace in the region.”
