Police Rescue 33 Victims of Plateau Attack, Arrest 20 Suspects

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

No fewer than 33 victims of an attack on some innocent citizens of Rukuba Community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State on Saturday, August 14, 2021, have been rescued by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

A statement issued on Monday by the spokesman of the police, Mr Frank Mba, confirmed this development. He also said 20 persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Mr Mba said in order to avert a breakdown of law and order in the area, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the immediate deployment of a Police Intervention Team to Plateau State to carry out an on-the-spot assessment and ensure enhanced, coordinated response to protect the community and boost public confidence in the affected area(s) of the state.

He said the team is led by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Mr Sanusi Lemu, in charge of Finance and Administration, who is also the coordinating DIG, North-Central geo-political zone.

According to him, the team comprises personnel of Police Tactical Units – the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Special Forces, amongst others deployed to protect the communities, prevent further attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The statement further said also deployed are investigators and covert operatives from the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) and the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB).

Mr Mba said the operatives are expected to provide additional investigative, intelligence and forensic support to the Plateau State Police Command in the ongoing investigations and rescue operations.

The IGP, while condemning the incident, called for calm and assured victims and relatives of the attack that the police was working with the military, other security forces and the state government to ensure that all perpetrators of the unfortunate incident are brought to book.