The security agencies were fully aware of an imminent attack by gunmen on communities in the Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local government areas of Plateau State between December 24 and 25, the national publicity secretary of the Middle Belt Forum, Stanley Kavwam has claimed.
About 175 people lost their lives so far in the attack by gunmen terrorising the area. This was just as the Nigerians were expecting a peaceful celebration of Christmas.
Mr Kavwam who was speaking on Arise TV Thursday claimed that the gunmen actually wrote to members of the communities, but there was no immediate response from troops of the Operation Safe Havens and the Joint Task Force.
“They received about 37 distress calls the Operation Safe Havens and the Joint Task Force…37 distress calls yet nothing was done,” said Mr. Kavwam.
“They know where they orchestrate these attacks from. That is the autonomous community of Mangu, which is at the foot of the Bokkos hills bordering Wamba in Nasarawa State.
“These attacks could last for between 12 and 24 hours yet there is no response from the security agents.”
He said that the terrorists reign supreme in that locality adding that they have even written another letter threatening to attack again on December 29.
Reacting to the development, Nigeria army director of media operations said during an interview: “The assailants took advantage of the relative peace that had returned to the state due to the military pressure of the past months. There were over 30 distressed calls from the communities when the attack was ongoing. Before troops could arrive at some of the locations, the havoc had been done.
“The combination of the difficult terrain and other factors played a role in delaying troops’ arrival at some of the locations.
“The assailants had intentionally planned to attack several locations at the same time to make it difficult for troops to reach there on time. Troops strategy is being rejigged to allow faster intervention in the future.”
