Seeks deployment of more troops to curb menaces, escalation

 -Hails OPSH over timely intervention



Group operating under the aegis of  Global Peace and Life Rescue Initiative,GOPRI, on Tuesday,voiced concern over the ceaseless attacks on Southern part of  Kaduna State resulting in lost of lives and destruction of property worth several millions of  naira,some criminal elements.

The group which expressed fears that the unabated attacks in the area could push the two most two dominant religions in the country at daggers drawn given the sensitive of the area,appealed to President Muhammad Buhari to redouble his efforts by deploying more troops and security personnel to stop the attacks as well as forestall any escalation.

This was as it commended Operation Safe Haven,the special task force in Plateau and Southern Kaduna for what it called its "timely intervention" in the latest attacks thus preventing mass casualty as well as retaliatory attacks.

The organisation with interest in peace building across the country,in a statement by its Executive Director,Amb. Melvin Ejeh, and Dr kefas Kure the Southern kaduna zonal Chairman of Gopri described the actions of the elements which have cut down lives of many in the past as barbaric, senseless, inhuman, and unjustifiable.

"GOPRI wishes to remind especially the security high command that Southern Kaduna is the belt of Northern Christains faith,so if this madness is not curbed immediately, it is likely to cause religious tensions in the country," the group said.

"GOPRI write to condemn in the strongest terms the barbaric, senseless, inhuman, and unjustifiable killings of over 20 innocents lives including women and children in Southern Kaduna area of Kaduna State by some criminal elements.

"This reprehensible action is sad and must be condemned by all men of good conscience," Ejeh said in the statement.

While commending Operation Safe Haven,OPSH,headed by Major General Chukwuma Okonkwo as commander for saving the day through timely intervention, Ejeh insisted that it was time the number of troops as well as intelligence security personnel be  deployed more to assist in the security in the area.

Hear him:"We wish to wholeheartedly commend the officers and men of Operation Safe Haven,OPSH,  the special military task force covering the area, for their prompt and swift response yesterday in another attack that would have claimed more than 100 lives in Gora Gan Village In Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State."

"Though six lives were reportedly lost but it would have been the deadliest  ever in the series of attacks in the area if not for OPSH's prompt intervention bearing the intensity of the attackers who came in their number and well armed.

"The galant troops repelled the attackers and even killed some of them while some escaped with bullet wounds, according to our source right in the village.

"This is the kind of intervention we want to be seeing from security agencies and not lips service and condemnation after killing of our people," he added.

The social crusaders regretted,"This is coming at a time we were beginning to have a sigh of relief from the incessant farmers herdsmen conflicts as a result of the robust efforts of the federal government and the security agencies. "

"As a responsible organisation, we will commend security agencies where they perform  and weep them when they failed.

"We are urging the security agencies to go after the attackers wherever they are, arrest them and bring them to book immediately.

"We will like to also remind the sponsors of this terrorists  that Nigeria belongs to all of us and we have equal rights to leave," he added.

"From what we saw and  heard about Operation Safe Haven,the military task force in charge of law enforcement in the area,if given more personnel and support,they will end the conflicts in no distant time.

" Our discreet investigation revealed that the tasks force is grossly under staffed and lack the  logistics to cover the area due to large land mark. 

"We are therefore appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari,to as a matter of urgency, direct the service chiefs to deploy troops and logistics to Southern Kaduna," he further said.