Why troops’ response to attacks on Plateau villages was delayed – DHQ

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian military has explained why it was difficult for troops to effectively respond to deadly attacks by armed militants on Bokkos and some parts of Barkin Ladi local government areas of Plateau State on December 23 and 24.

Over 150 people have been confirmed killed by the gunmen who attacked 36 villages across the local governments in about two days.

Nigerian security forces have been blamed for their inability to effectively respond to the incidents and stop the killings.

However, Nigeria’s military spokesperson, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba told journalists in Abuja on Friday that the militants carried out simultaneous attacks on the villages from various fronts.

According to him, over 100 marauding armed militant herders suspected to be mercenaries, carried out the unprovoked attacks from multiple fronts on Kambarpeli village in Bokkos while the locals were asleep.

“The militants unleashed mayhem on the villagers before the arrival of troops to the location,” he added.

Buba said the troops received a total of 36 distress calls from diverse locations simultaneously on Dec. 24 at about 1900 hours.

He said the distress calls reported a series of coordinated attacks by armed militant herders on isolated villages in the two local government areas.

“Troops responded to the calls and were able to intervene in 19 villages forcing the militants to withdraw.

“Unfortunately, the havoc had been committed before troops arrived at the other villages,” he added.

He said troops’ intervention in the 19 villages forced some of the militants to withdraw after wreaking havoc on the defenceless villagers.

Explaining why the troops were incapacitated to respond to all the attacks. Buba said noted that Bokkos and Barkin Ladi LGAs span about 2,315 Square kilometres with over 350 villages, mostly dispersed.

“The distance between some of these villages and troops’ locations is over 90 kilometres and sometimes difficult to access because of the rugged terrain which are mostly inaccessible to vehicles.

“Thus, affecting the reaction time to incidents, except when there is credible intelligence before the attack.”

According to him, the troops had in the second half of the year initiated kinetic and non-kinetic operations which significantly curtailed attacks between farmers and herders in the state.

“Until the recent killings in Plateau during Christmas, the highlighted measures visibly contributed to the relative peace in Plateau, as well as the adjoining areas in Bauchi, Taraba and Kaduna States.

“Similarly, the activities of Operation Whirl Stroke significantly checkmated armed banditry, kidnapping and other crimes in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states,” he added.

Buba assured that the military had taken necessary measures to overcome all identified challenges and ensure that such tragic occurrences were avoided in the future.

(NAN)