Terrorists expanding targets beyond civilians in Plateau

The Executive Chairman of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, Hon. Sati Bature Shuwa, has raised concern over what he described as a dangerous change in the pattern of attacks by suspected terrorists.
According to him, the terrorists are no longer targeting only civilians but have also turned their attention to security personnel and local vigilantes.

Shuwa made the remark after visiting Jol community, where three vigilantes, who were biological brothers, were killed while on community patrol during an attack on Tuesday night.

The appeal was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman of Riyom Local Government Council, Mr. Damba Dang.

Shuwa said the worsening security situation in Riyom Local Government Area requires urgent intervention from the Federal Government.

He recalled that less than 24 hours before the attack in Jol, suspected terrorists ambushed a joint security patrol in Danwal, Ganawuri District, killing security operatives and making away with their service rifles.

“The recent attacks clearly show that stronger security measures are urgently needed to protect our communities. The attack on Jol is another painful reminder of the security challenges our people face, and the government cannot continue to watch while innocent lives are being lost and communities are thrown into mourning,”Shuwa said.

Shuwa lamented that the attackers had expanded their targets beyond farming communities to include security personnel and local vigilantes.

Shuwa urged the Federal Government to recognise that terrorists were now targeting security operatives and local vigilantes in addition to civilians.

He stressed the need for more decisive and coordinated action to end the persistent killings.

“I urge the Federal Government to deploy more security personnel, strengthen intelligence gathering and provide the necessary logistics to security agencies to tackle the recurring attacks in Riyom and other parts of Plateau State,”Shuwa said.