Maj-Gen Buba Edward, Director of Defence Media Operations has addressed the reasons behind the inability to thwart the coordinated assaults on Plateau communities, resulting in the tragic loss of over 200 lives.
Edward explained that the vast Bokkos and Barkin Ladi areas, spanning 2,315 square kilometres with over 350 dispersed villages, posed challenges due to their rugged terrain, making access difficult for troops stationed over 90 kilometres away.
Highlighting the unfortunate events on December 23, 2023, he revealed that marauding armed militant herders, suspected mercenaries, executed unprovoked attacks on Kambarpeli village in the Bokkos LGA. Troops, stationed at a considerable distance, struggled to reach the location promptly, leading to devastating consequences for the villagers.
On December 24, troops responded to 36 distress calls reporting coordinated attacks in Bokkos and part of Barkin Ladi LGAs. While intervention successfully protected 19 villages, the militants had already inflicted harm on others before troops could arrive.
In his words; “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 is mostly inaccessible to vehicles. Thus, affecting the reaction time to incidents, except when there is credible intelligence before the attack.”
“On the night of 23 December 2023, over 100 marauding armed militant herders suspected to be mercenaries, carried out a series of unprovoked attacks from multiple fronts on Kambarpeli village in the Bokkos LGA of Plateau State while the locals were asleep. The militants unleashed mayhem on the villagers before the arrival of troops to the location.
“Similarly, on 24 December 2023, at about 1900 hrs, troops received a total of 36 distress calls from diverse locations simultaneously.
“The distress calls reported a series of coordinated attacks by armed militant herders on isolated villages in Bokkos and part of Barkin Ladi LGAs of Plateau State.
“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 noted.
In response to concerns raised by residents regarding potential attacks, Buba assured the public that measures had been implemented to prevent a recurrence. He pledged; “Attacks on Plateau will never repeat itself. We have put modalities in place to ensure that whatever limited us the last time that did not allow us to get to some of these locations on time has been eliminated. We are aware of the letters and we are doing something. We are seriously going after those who perpetrated the crime.”