Majar-General Abdusalam Abubakar, the Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in Plateau State said that they have released nine persons from the 12 suspects earlier arrested over the murder of herders leader who was killed by unknown assailants.
He stated this on Tuesday when addressing the meeting of stakeholders from the local council in Jos, attended by religious and community leaders, as well as associations and representatives of youth groups.
Adamu Gabdo, the Ardo (Fulani title holder) of Panyam Community in Mangu Local Government Area of the state was allegedly attacked and killed on September 23, and his corpse is yet to be recovered.
WikkiTimes had earlier documented its findings in an investigative report about the lingering farmers-herders crisis in the area which claimed hundreds of lives and thousands of others displaced.
OPSH Commander said “After a series of investigations, we have released nine of the suspects and three are still with us. The three are really cooperating with us and are providing useful information that is leading us to the real culprits. I assure Plateau people that anyone involved in this criminal act will be arrested,’’ he said.
Abubakar, who doubles as the General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, said OPSH would do everything possible to track down all perpetrators of the heinous act.
He debunked rumours that troops tortured the suspects, asserting that troops of OPSH had achieved a lot in tackling insecurity in the state.
“We have, to a large extent, addressed cattle rustling and armed robbery; just on Monday, we arrested seven armed robbery suspects. We will continue to do our best to stamp out all forms of criminality in Plateau and its environs,’’ he said.
Abubakar appealed to religious and community leaders to support the military and other security agencies in the efforts to ensure lasting peace in all parts of Plateau.
