Army Explains Troops Encounter With Police In Plateau

The Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, has explained the circumstances surrounding a viral video showing an encounter between its troops and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

In a statement issued on Monday, the task force said its troops responded to a distress call on October 20 over reports of sporadic gunfire in Mai Farin Moto, Maraban Dere and neighbouring communities, as well as the reported killing of a resident, Adamu Suleiman.

According to the statement signed by the Media Information Officer, Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, troops of Sector 3 were deployed to assess the security situation, establish the circumstances of the incident, prevent further escalation and protect lives and property.

The statement said the troops sought to engage police personnel operating in the area to clarify the situation and facilitate a coordinated security response.

However, the task force regretted that the interaction was characterised by a lack of cooperation from some police personnel, despite efforts to de-escalate tensions and maintain operational discipline.

It maintained that the troops’ intervention was prompted by an operational distress call and undertaken in the interest of public safety, urging the public to consider the circumstances surrounding the deployment when assessing accounts of the encounter.

Operation Enduring Peace reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, impartiality and the protection of lives and property, stressing that effective security operations depend on inter-agency cooperation, mutual respect and adherence to established procedures.

It added that issues arising from the incident were being addressed through appropriate command and inter-agency channels to establish the facts, strengthen operational cohesion and prevent a recurrence.

The task force also urged the public and media practitioners to verify information before publication and avoid spreading unsubstantiated accounts capable of undermining public confidence or straining relations among security agencies.

It assured Plateau residents of its continued commitment to maintaining law and order, protecting innocent citizens and consolidating peace and security across its joint operations area.