The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has deployed a Special Intervention Force to Plateau to restore peace in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South and other flash points in the state.
The police confirmed 86 persons killed by gunmen on June 24 in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Jos South local government areas of the state.
A statement by the force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, yesterday in Abuja, noted that two police aerial surveillance helicopters, five Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) and three Police Mobile Force Units (PMF) were deployed.
He said that two Counter Terrorism Units (CTU) and Police Intelligence Unit and conventional police personnel from other states have also been deployed to the affected areas.
Moshood added that the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of operations had relocated to Plateau on the directive of the IG to coordinate and supervise the operations.
He noted that “the IG has directed the Commissioner of Police in charge of IG monitoring unit to lead the police special investigation team to the affected areas and other flash points in Plateau.” He stated that the investigation team comprised the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), the Special Tactical Squad (STS) and the Technical Platforms.
The spokesman explained that “the team is to carry out thorough and discreet investigation into the killings and promptly apprehend those responsible,” adding that the police special intervention force included personnel of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), a detachment of Police Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD), Police K9 (Sniffer Dogs Section), conventional policemen, special anti-robbery squads.
Moshood said that the team, which had started arriving, were already working with the police command in the state to restore peace and sustain normalcy in the affected areas.
The police spokesman noted that personnel of the special intervention force would carry out 24 hours surveillance and patrol, stop and search vehicles and suspected locations and hideouts of suspected assailants.