Military Clarifies Encounter With Police in Plateau, Says No Clash Occurred

The Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (JTF-OPEP) has clarified the recent encounter between its troops and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, saying the incident was misconstrued as a clash between the two security agencies.

The task force’s media officer, Capt. Polycarp Oteh, made the clarification in a statement issued in Jos on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that videos and photographs purporting to show a confrontation between military and police personnel circulated on social media days before the clarification.

Reports surrounding the incident alleged that soldiers had prevented police officers from pursuing suspected criminals in the area.

However, Oteh said the troops were responding to a distress call following reports of sporadic gunfire in Mai Farin Moto, Maraban Dere and neighbouring communities.

He explained that the incident occurred on October 20, when troops from Sector 3 were deployed to assess the security situation following reports of gunshots and the suspected killing of a resident, identified as Adamu Suleiman.

“On Oct. 20, troops of our Sector 3 responded to a distress call reporting sporadic gunfire in Mai Farin Moto, Maraban Dere and adjoining communities. This is alongside reports of the suspected killing of a resident, Mr Adamu Suleiman,” he said.

According to Oteh, the troops were deployed to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, prevent further escalation and protect lives and property.

He said the soldiers attempted to engage the police personnel operating in the area to clarify the situation and facilitate a coordinated security response.

“Regrettably, the interaction was characterised by a lack of cooperation from some personnel in spite of efforts to de-escalate tensions and maintain operational discipline,” Oteh stated.

The media officer stressed that the troops’ intervention was prompted by an operational distress call and was undertaken in the interest of public safety.

He reaffirmed the task force’s commitment to impartiality, professionalism and the protection of lives and property.

“As a joint security arrangement, our operational effectiveness depends on inter-agency coordination, mutual respect, adherence to established procedures and unity of effort,” he said.

Oteh added that issues arising from the encounter were being addressed through appropriate command structures and inter-agency channels to establish the facts, preserve cooperation between the security agencies and prevent a recurrence.

He also urged members of the public and media organisations to verify information before publication, noting that responsible reporting was essential to credibility and professionalism.

The task force assured Plateau residents of its continued commitment to maintaining law and order, protecting innocent citizens and strengthening peace and security across its area of operations.