Military Explains Encounter With Police in Plateau

The Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace (JTF-OPEP), has explained the circumstances surrounding a recent encounter between its troops and officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The military said the incident was not a clash between the two security agencies, describing reports about the encounter as a misunderstanding of what happened during a security operation in the area.

The media officer of JTF-OPEP, Capt. Polycarp Oteh, made this known in a statement issued in Jos on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that videos and photographs showing an alleged confrontation between military and police personnel had circulated widely on social media days earlier.

Reports surrounding the incident claimed that soldiers had stopped police officers from pursuing suspected criminals in the area, raising concerns about the relationship between the two security agencies.

However, Oteh said the troops were responding to a distress call about sporadic gunfire in Mai Farin Moto, Maraban Dere and nearby communities in Bassa Local Government Area.

He explained that the incident occurred on October 20 when troops attached to Sector 3 were deployed to the affected communities following reports of gunshots and the suspected killing of a resident identified as Adamu Suleiman.

According to the military spokesman, the troops were sent to assess the security situation, determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and prevent further violence. Their mission also included protecting residents and their property from possible attacks.

Oteh said that upon arriving at the scene, the soldiers attempted to engage police officers already operating in the area to establish what had happened and ensure that both security agencies could respond in a coordinated manner.

However, he stated that the engagement was affected by a lack of cooperation from some police personnel, despite efforts by the troops to calm the situation and maintain discipline during the operation.

The military spokesman maintained that the soldiers’ presence in the area was prompted by an operational distress call and was intended to protect members of the public rather than interfere with the duties of other security agencies.

He added that Operation Enduring Peace remained committed to carrying out its responsibilities professionally, treating all parties fairly and protecting lives and property across its area of operation.

Oteh also noted that cooperation between security agencies was necessary for effective operations, stressing that the military and police needed to respect one another, follow established procedures and work together to maintain peace.

He explained that the issues arising from the encounter were being handled through the appropriate military command and inter-agency channels. The process, he said, was aimed at establishing the facts surrounding the incident, maintaining cooperation between the agencies and preventing a similar situation from happening again.

The military spokesman further urged journalists and members of the public to verify information before sharing or publishing reports, particularly those concerning security operations.

He said proper verification was necessary to ensure that information released to the public remained accurate and responsible, especially when reports could affect public confidence in security agencies.

Oteh assured residents of Plateau State that the task force would continue working to maintain law and order, protect innocent people and strengthen peace and security throughout its joint operations area.