Some bandits have laid down their arms which include seven AK–47 rifles submitted to the authorities with a pledge to embrace peace in Plateau State.
Penpushing reports that the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Coordinator of Operation Rainbow, Brigadier-General Gakji Shipi (rtd) made this known while speaking with journalists in Jos, the State Capital.
The retired army boss said the development indicated the effectiveness of the non-violent approach of the state government to tackling security challenges in the state, and credited the concerted efforts of security agencies, vigilantes, and hunters in the Wase Local Government Area for the recent progress in curbing banditry and related security issues in the area.
Penpushing further reports that the Special Adviser on Security and Coordinator of Operation Rainbow said the escalation of banditry in the state prompted the security agencies to broaden their focus beyond traditional hotspots.
The Brigadier-General pointed out that the success was achieved in Wase local government area through collaboration among local authorities, vigilante groups, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), the State Security Service (SSS) and the police, adding that negotiations were ongoing with other bandit groups, particularly in Wase.
“For quite some time now, we have been taking a look at the security situation bedevilling the state and apart from the kinetic approach, we have decided to adopt the non-kinetic means to solve the problem’, he stated.
‘So far, seven AK47s have been returned and if we take it that one belongs to one bandit, that means seven of them have renounced banditry. But as I said, we are still negotiating. We have also decided to shift attention to other areas, especially Wase Local Government Area, which have had a fair share of armed banditry and the endeavours have started recording success. We have started negotiations with them and you know these negotiations take time and it also takes time to build trust and for them to show goodwill,” he said.
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