The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Ahmed Idris Wase, has commended men of the Nigerian Army for their efforts in combating banditry and other forms of criminality in Wase and Kanam Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
Speaking when he visited the headquarters of Operation Safe Haven in Jos, the Deputy Speaker expressed confidence that the Nigerian Army would curtail the activities of the bandits in the use and Kanam areas.
He, however, urged the Nigerian Army to deploy additional troops in the areas to complement the efforts of the ground troops as well as the police and the local vigilantes.
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“I’m here to say thank you and to appreciate your efforts in tackling the insecurity in my area and to also ask for additional troops. Wase is one of the richest areas in terms of mineral resources way back during the colonial era, and you are aware that areas like that have the potential to attract criminals.
“In a community that is struggling to survive, you may find people that are killed by bandits, while others are kidnapped and most of them have to sell everything they have to rescue the relations. As you know, the primary aim of any government is to protect lives and property. Where life is lost, I think we have failed, whether it is from a constitutional or religious angle.
“I have lost my blood relations and constituents during attacks, so I know the pains people go through in this kind of circumstances. It is not an easy task. I’m willing to support everything that will ensure the protection of the lives and property of all Nigerians.
He also assured of the redness of the National Assembly to give the Nigerian Army the necessary support and cooperation they might require in tackling insecurity in the country.
Responding, the commander of Operation Safe Haven, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Salau Ali, commended the efforts of the Deputy Speaker, saying what is happening in Wase and Kanam Local Government Areas is purely an act of criminality and economic banditry.
“Our major challenge in these areas is the activities of the informants. Anytime our troops go out, as soon as they leave their location, the information goes out, so our troops hardly make any contact with them. That has been a major challenge to our operations.”
He, however, assured the Deputy Speaker that additional troops and equipment would be deployed to the affected areas.