By Steven Kefas, Kaduna
In response to a recent spate of violence in Mangu Local Government Area, the military has relocated its headquarters to the area and imposed a 24-hour curfew.
Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, the Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), said the move was necessary to work in synergy with the local authority to mitigate the situation.
“I have relocated the headquarters of OPSH here so we can work with the local authority. We will stay here until we stabilise the situation.
“The governor is disturbed by the happenings, and that is why I am personally here to lead my troops. We won’t allow the situation to deteriorate further. We are not here to joke; and so we will be decisive, fair and firm,” Abubakar said according to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, due to the recent unrest in Mangu Local Government Area of the State, the state Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has imposed a 24-hour curfew in the area to restore law and order and to forestall further loss of lives and destruction of properties.
The curfew, which began on Sunday, is in effect until further notice. Movements within the local government are banned except for security personnel and persons on essential duties.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang said the curfew was necessary to “restore law and order and to forestall further loss of lives and destruction of properties.”
“The government is working round-the-clock to restore peace and security in the state,” Mutfwang said.
The violence in Mangu Local Government Area is the latest in a series of attacks that have plagued Plateau State in recent years. The attacks have often been blamed on ethnic and religious tensions.
The military’s decision to relocate its headquarters to Mangu and the state government’s decision to impose a curfew on the affected area is a sign that the government is taking the violence seriously. It remains to be seen whether these measures will be enough to restore peace to the state.
