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JayFM News Commentary: The Worsening Insecurity in Plateau and Governor Lalong’s Chances at Addressing the Challenge

Written by on August 3, 2022

By The News and Current Affairs Department of Jay 101.9 FM, Jos

From the Local Government Areas of Plateau state, the bad news of insecurity keeps coming unabated.

 Gunmen suspected to be bandits have moved in from one community to  the other threatening residents, attacking and injuring  others, while many who were not so lucky were killed

Earlier in the week, a total of 18 persons reportedly lost their lives after bandits and members of vigilance groups clashed in the Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Some residents of Wase who confirmed the incident said 16 of those killed were bandits while two other victims were identified as members of a local vigilance group in the area.

According to the residents, the incident happened in the Bangalala community of the Council area whose residents had been under  constant threats by bandits, some previous weeks

A few days ago, the gunmen moved to Jos South Local Government Area and killed seven persons in the Danda Chugwi community

Others who sustained serious gun injuries were  taken to Vom Christian hospital for medical attention

It was learned that among those injured was a four-month-old baby whose hand was amputated by the gunmen during the attack.

In all the killings and attacks, the lackluster response of the state government led by Governor Simon Lalong was visible.

 With the latest killings only elicited a press statement by his Director of press and public affairs, Makut Simon Macham condemning the incident, as usual, the governor’s familiar pattern of response to such attacks and killings has not served as a deterrent to perpetrators.

The sole aim of the government is the protection of the lives and property of the citizens. Many communities in Plateau state are leaving in fear due to insecurity. Many have reduced farming activities, the major occupation of most residents while others had abandoned the same due to fear of being attacked or killed. Following the constant attack and killings in Wase LGA, the Plateau state police Command recently opened a new Police division in the council area in their bid to address the security challenge

The strengthening of Operation Rainbow, the state-owned security outfit which would have effectively complemented the efforts of the conventional security agents in tackling insecurity in the local communities was bungled by underfunding and official indifference of the state government.

Consequently, operation Rainbow which was conceived by the past administration to respond to distress calls and other security threats in the local communities has failed to leave up to expectations in protecting the lives and property of the people.

To leave a legacy, the Lalong administration should find a lasting solution to the state of attacks and killings of innocent residents by gunmen, particularly in the local communities. He has less than eleven months to make a difference in the security sub-sector in the state before leaving the office for a new administration in 2023


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