A group under the aegis of Justice Development and Peace Commission ,JDPC, of the Catholic Arch-Diocese of Jos, has called on security agencies responsible for the maintenance of peace in Plateau State to be more proactive.
The Assistant Coordinator of the group, Rev. Fr. Basil Kassam made the call in an interview with DailyPost, in Jos.
JDPC who is saddled with the onus of promoting peace and reaching out to the less privileged in the society, said, “I want to compliment what the security agents are doing.
“They are doing really great works in terms of providing security and ensuring that lives and property are protected in Plateau and across the country.
“The challenge on their part has been so tremendous that I see what they are doing as not being able to adequately give security cover to other areas. It is like here is protected and other part is not.
He decried that, “The sad part of it, is that the security agents are found only on the highways. The hinterlands are vastly on their own.
Kassam advised thus “They can make it in such a way that every village will have some presence of security men. I’m sure that will minimize the
level of the sporadic attacks that we do have in our suburbs”.
The cleric criticized the calls for withdrawal of the men and officers of the Special Task force (STF) maintaining peace in Plateau, noting that, the peace being enjoyed in the state is still a fragile one.
He however advised the military personnel in Plateau to continue to live up to their responsibility and be accountable in all their dealings.
“If allegations are growing by the day, the security should be up and doing, and should be able to clear the air on its falsehood.
The Cleric further explained that, “In every sphere of life, there is bound to be the good and the bad alike, so allegation is a possibility”.
Kassam further explained that, if there were outcries by the people that the security men were part of the problem they were facing, then they (military) should retrace their steps.
“If they are able to do that, no one will accuse them. But if you are accused and you cannot account for your activities, then there are some elements of truth in those allegations,’’ he stressed.
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