Ten abductees have been rescued by security operatives after they were kidnapped by gunmen in the Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor, Macham Makut, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday.
According to the statement, “The Governor has commended security forces whose combined efforts together with vigilante and hunter groups ensured the rescue of 10 persons kidnapped by bandits in Bashar, Wase Local Government.
“He praised the prompt action of the police, Operation Safe Haven and community watch groups who gave the hoodlums a hot chase and ensured that all the kidnapped persons and other stolen items were recovered.
“The Governor says this level of criminality must be addressed wholistically by the security agencies in collaboration with the traditional and community leaders leveraging on the structures of community policing and vigilante groups.
“He warns criminals that his administration will not allow them to return the days of darkness to the state under any guise.
“Governor Lalong sympathises with the families of the victims and assures them that those behind the attacks will be made to pay for their actions.
“He also calls for vigilance among the citizens and timely passage of intelligence and information to security agencies to proactively prevent such attacks.”
It had been reported that On Saturday 8th October 2022, gunmen attacked Kuliyas Village in Butura, Bokkos killing 4 persons including two village heads.
This was after other reported isolated killings in other villages of Follo, Karara, Bokkos, and Mangor as well as the kidnap of some students at All Nation’s Academy in the Council Area were eventually rescued by security forces.
The statement added, “Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has ordered security forces to immediately confront attackers threatening the lives of people in villages around Bokkos Local Government Area.
“Governor Lalong who described the recent spate of attacks on some villages leading to loss of lives as unacceptable said the attackers must be fished out and not allowed to go unpunished.”