From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos
The Operations Save Haven (OPSH), responsible for maintaining peace in Plateau state and some parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states has denied the rumour making the round that the command has taken side with the Fulani during the recent attacks and counter attacks on the villages of Bassa Local Government.
The Commander Operation Safe Haven, (OPSH), Major General Anthony Atolagbe at a media briefing yesterday, denied the allegations saying that, “ there was no reason that his command would take side with Fulani”
He said that his mandate was to protect the lives and properties of all and sundry in the state irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliation.
According to Atolagbe, since after the attacks he deployed his men in groups and even introduced motorcycle squads called Special Forces who were trained outside this country to patrol the areas and prevent future attacks.
The commander confirmed the beheading of the Fulani in Kuri village and also the killing of 22 people inside a primary school at Nkiedonwhro village of Irigwe Chiefdom in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State He said, “We can’t take side, since I have been in this operation, we have started doing a lot of things. We have stakeholders meeting at OPSH headquarters and at the sectors level in order to promote peace and avoid crisis, there is a compulsory two times stakeholders meeting every week.”
He denied that his men called attackers to kill women and children in the primary school as spread in some quarters in the state.
“We asked the people to go to the school and when the shooting started, some people were shouting, the soldiers said let them go and drive them away, 12 of our men were guarding the school, they went after the attackers and drive them away, but before my men come back some attackers came and killed them in the school, “ he said. He added that no arrest so far has been made, but his command was working round the clock to arrest the perpetrators and brought them to book.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
