The Plateau State Police Command, on Thursday, paraded 16 suspects in connection with the recent attacks on the Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
A spokesman for the Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, said nine of the suspects were arrested on Wednesday during an operation to restore normalcy in Mangu town while the other seven were apprehended over 2023 Christmas Eve attacks in the state.
“The Plateau State Command has successfully repelled some attacks on some villages in Mangu LGA on 24th January 2024 at about 22:00hrs. We received intelligence concerning an attack which was targeted on the Tam community and JSTC Company both of Mangu LGA.
“Our team of agile police officers from the IGP Special Intervention Squad at the ASDC Company in conjunction with the Area Commander in Panchi and DPO swung into action and thwarted that effort of the attackers.
“In a separate incident, an attempt by some criminal assailants in Panyam District to set fire to some worship centres was prevented by the swift intervention of by police and with the help of some elders of the community and other security agencies.
“The Command is grateful to inform you that the situation as of today is under control and so far, nine suspects have been arrested,” DSP Alabo said.
The police spokesman said that exhibits recovered from the suspects include dangerous weapons such as machetes, and kegs containing petrol, among other items.
He added that so far, over ten corpses have been recovered from various locations, adding that two injured persons currently receiving treatment at the hospital, while one car and 10 houses were burnt down.