The Commander of the Special Task Force (STF), code name Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), mandated to restore peace on the Plateau, some parts of Bauchi State and Southern Kaduna, all in North-central Nigeria, Major General Anthony Atolagbe, has said that organised crimes still exist in communities in its area of operation.
He however reiterated the commitment of the Task Force to flush them out from their hideous.
Gen. Atolagbe stated this yesterday while reacting to the insinuating that the task-force is taking sides in the conflict between farmers and herders.
He said, “let the public be reminded that criminal gangs exist in our communities and OPSH has the responsibility to remove such characters from the public domain”.
He stressed that the hoodlums who are perpetrating criminal activities and are responsible to the wanton lost of lives are also bent on discrediting the operations of the task-force, adding that the OPSH which is composed of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies will not join issues with any political, religious or ethnic organisation.
Atolagbe who spoke through a press statement and a copy made available to skynews said that “the continued perpetration of criminal acts has often contributed to instability in the state.
“It is high time these aforementioned organisations separate criminalities from their peaceful and public spirited callings: it is in this light that OPSH needs to put the records straight that our deployment is only targeted at criminals and not against any community or organization.
“All communities and organizations are encouraged to feel free to conduct their daily activities while extending necessary cooperation to the security agencies in order to rid their localities of criminals.
“The OPSH wishes to reiterates it’s readiness to respond to any act of breach of security or criminalilty which is capable of creating insecurity and instability in the state: we would want to reassure members of the general public of its determination to protect lives and properties of all law abiding citizens of the State”, he said.