The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong
*** Orders stringent security around all public schools
By YUSUFU IDEGU, Jos-
Gunmen suspected to be bandits had stormed the students hostel of Plateau state university in Bokkos last Monday night and successfully abducted four students.
But after the abduction, a combined team of security agencies including the university security, local security groups as well troops of the Special Military Task Force known as Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) went after the kidnappers, forcing the criminals to abandoned the students and escaped.
The four students were then recovered from the kidnappers and returned to the hostel safely.
Reacting to the rescue mission in a statement issued on Tuesday, The State Governor, Simon Lalong, said he was full of gratitude to the security agencies, describing their efforts as bold, courageous and professional.
Governor Lalong who commended the security agencies for rising up to the occasion and being proactive directed the immediate establishment of a police post within the host community of the University in order to forestall any future reoccurrence.
The Governor also directed that security is tightened in all other schools across the State to guarantee the safety and security of students.
It would be recalled that the Governor had last year directed the University Management to improve security of the institution which led to the installation of CCTV surveillance and early warning systems all over the campus as well as the preparation for fencing of the entire campus.
The Governor has assured the students that all necessary measures would continue to be employed to ensure that they learn and dwell under a peaceful, secure and conducive environment.
Meanwhile, the Governor has again appealed to the citizens to assist security agencies with relevant intelligence that would lead to not only the arrest of the fleeing kidnappers, but to the apprehension of all criminal elements that are bent on disrupting the peace of the State.
He also commends the Local Government Chairman, Yusuf Machen for sustaining synergy with the security agencies and the University community which is key to achieving peace and security in the area.
He appealed that such synergy should be sustained among traditional, community leaders as well as the newly deployed community police constables, so as to frustrate the plans of the criminals.