Over the past six months, many residents in Plateau State have lost their lives and properties due to the incessant attacks by gunmen in some communities.

However, the military said it is committed to achieving lasting peace in the state in spite of this heavy loss recorded in the past on Tuesday, October 24, 2023.

Report has it that no fewer than 346 persons were killed in eight local government areas of the state between April 17 and July 10, 2023, while about 18,751 Internally Displaced Persons were recorded in 14 camps.

Meanwhile, more than 75 persons have so far died in the unabating violent attacks on the Plateau between July 10, 2023, till date, thus bringing the total number of people killed in the past six months to 421.

The attacks leading to the deaths of the 75 latest victims occurred in different communities from six Local Government Areas of the state including Jos South, Mangu, Riyom, Bassa, Barkin Ladi, and Jos East with Mangu at the top of the list with 31 killings, while Jos East recorded two killings.

Others were – Jos South, 8; Barkin Ladi, 22; Riyom, 4 and Bassa 8.

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Captain Oya James, an officer of the Military Special Taskforce in Charge of maintaining the peace in Plateau said, “Our Peace Foundation is currently working on a second report in order to do a comparative analysis, review, and make recommendations. However, while we complete our internal checks, what is certain is that the violence, killings, and attacks appear to be going down. But as you observed in your investigation, losing 75 more lives is heartbreaking.

“It’s unfortunate and avoidable. How many more do we want to see die before we come back to our full senses? Violence hardly solves any problems in the long run except to create more complications in the search for sustainable peace.

“The Executive Governor of Plateau State Barr Caleb Muftwang needs to be encouraged and commended in his commitment to finding the peace.

“Likewise, the military leadership, comprising of the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and General Officer Commanding C/STF Commander need to synergise with the Police and Operation Rainbow to see that there will be no return to violence and these retributive attacks.

He vowed that the officers and men of the task force would leave no stone unturned until the peace objectives were achieved in the state.

He insisted that the attacks and killings were not religious or tribal but were being perpetrated by those he described as criminal elements in the society

James pointed out, “It will interest you to know that every week, the minimum number of suspected criminals we arrest are always in the neighbourhood of 40.

“This week alone, about 75 of them were arrested, and several others were neutralised. This figure includes those who are involved in farmland destruction. When they reduce, definitely, there will be a reduction in the crime rate in the state.

“So, we have employed both the kinetic and non-kinetic approach in addressing the security challenge in Plateau. Just last week, the GOC and Commander of Operation Safe Haven inaugurated an expanded 55-member peace implementation committee as part of the efforts and I can assure you that we are not relenting in our determination to achieve lasting peace in Plateau State,” James assured.