The Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace (JTF-OPEP), has dismissed reports of a clash between its troops and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, describing the incident as a misunderstanding during a security operation.
The task force said its troops were responding to a distress call over sporadic gunfire in Mai Farin Moto, Maraban Dere and neighbouring communities when the encounter with police personnel occurred.
The media officer of JTF-OPEP, Capt. Polycarp Oteh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Jos, following the circulation of videos and photographs on social media alleging a confrontation between military and police personnel.
Reports had alleged that soldiers prevented police officers from pursuing suspected criminals in the area.
However, Oteh said the troops were deployed on October 20 after receiving reports of gunfire and the suspected killing of a resident identified as Adamu Suleiman.
According to him, the deployment was aimed at assessing the security situation, establishing the circumstances surrounding the incident, preventing further escalation and protecting lives and property.
He explained that upon arriving at the affected communities, the troops 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 said.
The task force maintained that the troops’ intervention was prompted by an operational distress call and undertaken in the interest of public safety.
Oteh further stated that the incident was being addressed through appropriate command and inter-agency channels to establish the facts, maintain operational cohesion and prevent a recurrence.
He stressed that effective joint security operations depended on inter-agency coordination, mutual respect, adherence to established procedures and a unified approach to tackling insecurity.
The media officer also urged journalists and members of the public to verify information before publication, noting that responsible reporting was essential to maintaining credibility and professionalism.
He reaffirmed JTF-OPEP’s commitment to maintaining law and order, protecting innocent residents and sustaining peace and security across its operational area in Plateau State.
The task force’s statement comes amid public attention generated by the viral footage, although the circumstances of the encounter and the accounts of the police personnel involved were not detailed in the statement.
The Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace (JTF-OPEP), has dismissed reports of a clash between its troops and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, describing the incident as a misunderstanding during a security operation.
The task force said its troops were responding to a distress call over sporadic gunfire in Mai Farin Moto, Maraban Dere and neighbouring communities when the encounter with police personnel occurred.
The media officer of JTF-OPEP, Capt. Polycarp Oteh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Jos, following the circulation of videos and photographs on social media alleging a confrontation between military and police personnel.
Reports had alleged that soldiers prevented police officers from pursuing suspected criminals in the area.
However, Oteh said the troops were deployed on October 20 after receiving reports of gunfire and the suspected killing of a resident identified as Adamu Suleiman.
According to him, the deployment was aimed at assessing the security situation, establishing the circumstances surrounding the incident, preventing further escalation and protecting lives and property.
He explained that upon arriving at the affected communities, the troops 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 said.
The task force maintained that the troops’ intervention was prompted by an operational distress call and undertaken in the interest of public safety.
Oteh further stated that the incident was being addressed through appropriate command and inter-agency channels to establish the facts, maintain operational cohesion and prevent a recurrence.
He stressed that effective joint security operations depended on inter-agency coordination, mutual respect, adherence to established procedures and a unified approach to tackling insecurity.
The media officer also urged journalists and members of the public to verify information before publication, noting that responsible reporting was essential to maintaining credibility and professionalism.
He reaffirmed JTF-OPEP’s commitment to maintaining law and order, protecting innocent residents and sustaining peace and security across its operational area in Plateau State.
The task force’s statement comes amid public attention generated by the viral footage, although the circumstances of the encounter and the accounts of the police personnel involved were not detailed in the statement.