Seven (7) suspected bandits have reportedly surrendered and turned in their weapons in Plateau state. A large cache of weapons which included 7 AK-47s was said to have been turned over to security agencies in the state by the assailants.
The special adviser to plateau state governor on security and coordinator of operation rainbow, brigadier general Gakji Shipi (Retd.,) made the announcement on Monday.
General Shipi said that a non-kinetic approach to security challenges facing the state has started yielding results. He went on to commend security agencies, the vigilante and hunters in Wase local government area of the state for their efforts in recent times towards arresting the spate of banditry and other security challenges. He also said other outreach measures are being deployed to ensure more bandits follow the same path, surrender and turn in their weapons.
“For quite some time now, we have been taking a look at the security situation bedeviling the state and apart from the kinetic approach, we have decided to adopt the non-kinetic means to solve the problem.
“So far, seven AK47s have been returned and if we take it that one belongs to one bandit, that means seven of them have renounced banditry. But as I said, we are still negotiating.”
“We have also decided to shift attention to other areas, especially Wase Local Government Area, which have had a fair share of armed banditry and the endeavours have started recording success.
“We have started negotiations with them, and you know these negotiations take time and it also takes time to build trust and for them to show goodwill,” he said.
