Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, who announced the deployment at a briefing on Wednesday, said the troops would be deployed from a battalion of the Nigerian Army.
The militia group had earlier in the year, ambushed and killed no fewer than 49 policemen and 10 officers of the State Security Service (SSS) at Lakyo village during a joint reconnaissance exercise.
Members of the militia also inflicted heavy casualties on the civilian population, particularly people who did not belong to their ethnic group, or those perceived to be against their traditional beliefs.
Ever since, the security situation in the state has continued to take a frightening dimension, with prospects of the violence spreading to neighbouring states.
“Due to the heightened security situation in Nasarawa State, the Federal Government has ordered the deployment of Nigerian Army troops in order to prevent further escalation of the violence and its spread to other parts of the state.
“It is gratifying to note that the deployment of Nigerian Army troops in the violence prone area has helped in curbing the spread of violence by the Ombatse and other ethnic militia groups in Nasarawa State. The Federal Government and the Nasarawa State government are exploring other ways of ensuring quick return to normalcy,” Gen. Attahiru stated.
The Army spokesman also said nine officers and men are currently being tried in a General Court Martial for offenses ranging from murder, manslaughter, issuing threats and use of abusive or provocative language.
According to him, some of the soldiers were also being tried for fighting, quarreling, disobedience and other tendencies capable of threatening established order.
Somebody tell me why it took so long to deploy soldiers to combat the ombatses.I thought a stitch in time saves nine.
ReplyDeleteDat is Jonathan for everybody,wat matter most for him is 2015 and nailing any governor that doesn't support d ambition but I believe the end will justfy d means .
ReplyDelete@Gbengus Soldiers are deployed in extreme situation, it shouldn't be every time that we have internal clashes that soldiers would be called out. We are not at war and deployment of soldiers shouldn't be abused, else, the same you will accuse the president of militarising the country for political purpose. The group itself is just a mere militia but heavily populated by policemen who are from that clan, that's the reason it seemed they couldn't dislodge them. Those police members are responsible for the leakage of information of police activities leading to the wanton massacre of other policemen.
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