By Stella Odueme
The Joint Task Force, Operation ENDURING PEACE (JTF-OPEP), has said its troops were deployed to communities in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State following a distress call reporting sporadic gunfire and the killing of a resident.
The task force made this known while clarifying a viral video showing an encounter between its troops and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force in the area.
In a statement by its Media Information Officer, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, made available to journalists on Monday, the task force said the incident occurred on October 20, when troops of Sector 3 responded to reports of gunfire in Mai Farin Moto, Maraban Dere and neighbouring communities.
The statement identified the deceased resident as Mr Adamu Suleiman.
According to Oteh, the troops were deployed to assess the security situation, determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, prevent further escalation and safeguard lives and property.
He said the troops, upon arrival, attempted to engage police personnel operating in the area to establish the facts and ensure a coordinated security response.
However, the interaction was reportedly marked by a lack of cooperation from some police personnel, despite efforts to de-escalate tensions and maintain operational discipline.
The task force maintained that the troops' intervention was necessitated by the distress call and was undertaken in the interest of public safety.
It urged the public to consider the operational circumstances surrounding the deployment rather than rely on narratives that might not reflect the full details of the incident.
Operation ENDURING PEACE reiterated its commitment to professionalism, impartiality and the protection of lives and property, emphasising that effective security operations require cooperation, mutual respect and adherence to established procedures among security agencies.
The statement disclosed that the issues arising from the encounter were being addressed through appropriate command and inter-agency channels to establish the facts, strengthen cooperation and prevent a recurrence.
It also appealed to the public and media practitioners to verify information before publication and refrain from spreading unsubstantiated accounts capable of undermining public confidence or affecting relations among security agencies.
The task force assured Plateau residents of its determination to maintain law and order, protect innocent citizens and sustain peace and security throughout its area of operations.