In the aftermath of a harrowing attack in Bokkos Local Government Area, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, along with service chiefs, made a poignant visit to Plateau State.
The delegation, which included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, landed at the Yakubu Gowon Airport Heipang via a Nigerian Air Force plane, marking a resolute response to the recent spate of violence.
Arriving at 10:10 am, Matawalle took a salute from military officials, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. The service chiefs accompanying him were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar.
Plateau State has been rocked by two attacks within a week, with the latest claiming the lives of a father and his son. The preceding assault on December 24 saw over 190 casualties during the Christmas Eve attacks in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi local government areas.
In the recent incident, the Transition Implementation Committee chairman, Markus Nyam, reported that attackers infiltrated the village on Saturday night. The community’s vigilantes bravely engaged them, resulting in the death of one assailant.
The Joint Security Task Force Operation Safe Haven responded promptly to the distress call, preventing further damage and demonstrating the commitment to ensuring the safety of the affected communities.
The minister and service chiefs, in their visit, expressed solidarity and pledged swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice, providing a glimmer of hope in the face of adversity.
