Matawalle leads service chiefs to Plateau, promises ‘improvement’ in security

Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence, on Sunday, led military service chiefs on a visit to Plateau state on Sunday. 

The minister was accompanied by Gabriel Musa; minister of defence staff, Taoreed Lagbaja; army chief, Emmanuel Ogalla, naval chief; and Hassan Abubakar, chief of air staff.

Betta Edu, humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation minister, was also on the train.

On Christmas Eve, over 115 persons were killed following attacks by gunmen on communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi LGAs of the state.

The gunmen reportedly razed houses and looted properties in the communities.

While speaking with journalists, the defence minister said President Bola Tinubu has ordered the military to “fish out those marauders and deal with them decisively”.

“As you know, the issue of insecurity is not what we should continue seeing on the pages of newspapers and television screens. You all are going to see the improvement and successes will be recorded,” Matawalle said.

Edu said the humanitarian ministry will provide relief materials to the affected people.

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The minister said the federal government will support the locals pending when they are properly resettled.

“The president has asked us to come to Plateau state and see what is on the ground as well as deploy immediate relief materials while people are currently displaced.

“We will be working with the military very closely as we will be sending a humanitarian relief team. They would be on the ground for the next one month.”