Don’t abandon us, Plateau council chair begs as military, police confirm presence of suspected terrorists

The Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau state, Joshua Ubandoma, has cried out that terrorists have infiltrated the council area and that of the Lantang South LGA inhabited by the Tarok ethnic nationality.

He expressed fears that the intention was to attack the people.

The council chairman who raised the alarm while addressing journalists in Jos on Friday evening, pleaded with the government and the security agents to do everything possible to stop the planned attack on his people.

According to him, the terrorists were spotted on Thursday while entering the Tarok land through Wase and Kardako axis in the southern zone of the state.

He said that he had reported the matter to the Commander, Field Operation Base in Langtang North; as well as the state Commissioner of Police who all confirmed receiving intelligence report on the influx of the terrorists in the two council areas.

The council chairman said, “Yesterday (Thursday) at about 4pm, we had an influx of terrorists. They were seen around the southern zone in Wase axis coming to attack the Tarok nation in Langtang North and Lantang South LGAs.

“Immediately, I got in touch with the FOB Commander in Langtang North and he confirmed to me that they were aware of the intelligence report.

“The Area Commander in charge of the southern zone also called me to report the incident, advising that I should alert the communities to be vigilant.

“I then called the state Commissioner of Police to inform him of the development and he also confirmed to me that he had been briefed about it but that as a local government, we should try and see what could be done.

“So, the impending attack on my people is no longer an allegation since it has been confirmed by the security authorities.

“I thought that if such an attack was about to happen, security agents should take proactive measures to avert it. We are civilians, we have no arms or ammunition and we don’t want our people to be killed .

“We are aware that before the attack in Rukuba Road in Jos where about 22 travellers were killed, there had been killings in Bassa and Irigwe, Riyom, Mangu and many other communities; yet, no action was taken before the recent one in Yelwa Zangam where carnage was also visited on the people.

“And now, we are talking about Langtang North and South. It should not be allowed to happen again. We have had enough bloodshed in the state

“Our people did not sleep yesterday because of the influx of the terrorists in our communities. And that is why we are calling on the government and security agents not just to confirm that they had received intelligence report on the terrorists. What are they doing to stop them from executing the planned attack on the people?”

The council chairman, therefore, demanded that the terrorists be chased out of the forests and other hideouts in the council areas without further delay.

He also warned against a situation where security agents would be sent to the communities to ‘cage’ the people after terrorists might have executed their evil agenda, thereby inflicting more pains and hardship on the people.

“We want the terrorists to be chased out of our council areas before they attack our people. We have not attacked anybody in Langtang and nobody should attack us.

“But, should the terrorists be allowed to attack, let the military not come to cage our people, the attack victims.

“Rather, they should join hands with the victims to chase away the terrorists wherever they may be.”

(Courtesy, Saturday PUNCH)