Army Chief Dispatches Special Forces to Plateau to Combat Resurgent Terror Attacks

Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has ordered the deployment of the Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion, comprising special forces, to Plateau State.

The announcement was made through a statement released on Monday by Chinonso Oteh, spokesperson for Operation Enduring Peace, a joint task force operating in the state.

According to Oteh, the special forces are tasked with confronting and eradicating the recent resurgence of terror attacks in Plateau with "aggressive and decisive" action.

Upon their arrival, the special forces were received by Major General Folusho Oyinlola, the commanding officer of Headquarters 3 Division and commander of Operation Enduring Peace.

Represented by Brigadier General Senlong Sule, the operation’s Chief of Staff, Major General Oyinlola urged the newly deployed soldiers to be "decisive and ruthless in carrying out offensive operations against the terrorists."

The statement further indicated that the Chief of Army Staff has provided the troops with essential combat enablers and logistical support necessary for their operations.

Brigadier General Sule appealed to residents of Plateau State to remain calm and avoid panic in the event of increased military presence or the movement of heavy equipment. He expressed gratitude for the community's ongoing support and encouraged them to continue providing actionable intelligence to assist the military in combating terrorists and criminals.

Plateau State has grappled with prolonged periods of violence, often attributed to political, ethnoreligious, and farmer-herder disputes.

Historically, the state has experienced significant loss of life and property damage since the onset of recurrent violence in 1994, following protests over the appointment of a sole administrator for Jos North LGA.

A review by PREMIUM TIMES indicated over 15 major violent incidents, excluding Boko Haram attacks, leading to substantial casualties and destruction.

In 2023, a notable conflict erupted between Mwaghavul farmers and Fulani herders in Mangu Local Government Area, which subsequently spread to other areas like Barkin Ladi and Bokkos, resulting in numerous fatalities, including an incident described as a Christmas Eve massacre.