Plateau Massacre: Police Deploy Tactical Units

According to police, no fewer than 20 people have been arrested in connection with the Saturday massacre of about 22 travelers in Plateau State.

In addition to the arrests, “33 victims were rescued,” according to CP Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer.

Recall that At about 9:28 a.m. on Saturday, August 14, rampaging youths attacked a convoy of five buses on Rukuba Road in Plateau State’s Jos North Local Government Area, killing 22 and injuring 14.

The victims were claimed to be on their way back from the annual Zikr prayer in Bauchi State to Ikare in Ondo State.

According to the police, the Inspector-General, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the immediate deployment of a Police Intervention Team to Plateau State to conduct on-the-spot assessments and ensure an enhanced coordinated response to protect the community and boost public confidence in the affected area(s) of the state.

The deployment comes in the aftermath of a Saturday attack on civilians in the Rukuba community of Plateau State’s Jos North Local Government Area.

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Sanusi N. Lemu, Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Finance and Administration and the coordinating DIG for the North-Central geopolitical zone, leads the Police Intervention Team.

The Team is made up of members of tactical groups such as the Police Mobile Force (PMF), the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), and the Police Special Forces, among others, who are deployed to safeguard communities, prevent future attacks, and bring the culprits to justice.

Investigators and clandestine operatives from the Force Criminal Investigations Department, FCID, and the Force Intelligence Bureau, FIB, were also deployed.

A statement by CP Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer, said: “The operatives are expected to provide additional investigative, intelligence and forensic support to the Plateau State Police Command in the ongoing investigations and rescue operations.

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“The IGP, while condemning the incident, has called for calm and assured victims and relatives of the attack that the Police are working with the military, other security forces and the state government to ensure that all perpetrators of the unfortunate incident are brought to book.

“Meanwhile, the IGP noted that 20 suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack, while 33 victims have been rescued.

“The IGP enjoined citizens in the affected area(s) to support the security forces deployed to the hotspot by providing useful information that will lead to the arrest of other perpetrators of the crime and forestall any further attack.”