The Headquarters 3 Division of Nigerian Army and Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), a multi security task force maintaining peace in Plateau and some parts of Bauchi and Kaduna, on Tuesday, alleged a plot by some merchants to perpetrate unrest in Jos and its environs.
The Nigerian Army made the allegations in response to Monday’s press conference organized by TEKAN/ECWA bloc of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau State Chapter on the rising insecurity in the state, held at the ECWA Jos DCC Headquarters Jos.
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A statement sent to Daily Trust by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Major Eli Lazarus, reads: “We are not unmindful of the determination of some merchants of crisis to perpetuate unrest in Jos metropolis and its environs.
“They are also bent on ensuring that the GOC and Commander OPSH does not continue with his mandate of ensuring sustainable peace in the state.
“The call for the removal of the GOC did not come to us as a surprise as the campaign of calumny against the person of the GOC started shortly after he assumed command.
“Those series of attacks were indeed precursors to this latest call for his removal.
“To allege that Maj Gen IS Ali has not lived to expectation in managing the dual responsibility of GOC and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN is false. Suffice to say that Plateau State is one of the 5 states under the 3 Division area of responsibility and they have been well managed.
“Moreso, military officers are deployed for appointments based on their competence, training, experience, and capabilities.
“Additionally, the GOC is under oath to discharge his duties professionally and not to please individuals for their personal gains.
“The erroneous mention of the GOC’s initials as MS Ali is also indicative of the fact that the group does not even know the person of the GOC and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN, ” the statement added.
Major Lazarus, however, urged the TEKAN/ECWA bloc to encourage her members to cooperate with the security agencies as they strive to restore peace and security in the state and not to resort to self-help by taking the laws into their hands.
He further assured members of the public that security agencies would continue to carry out their assigned duties professionally devoid of tribal, ethnic, socio-political, and religious sentiments by ensuring peace and tranquility in its area of responsibility, saying that they have increased the presence of security personnel in the state.
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