Military shifts base to Mangu after attacks

The military has moved the tactical headquarters of Operation Enduring Peace from Jos, the capital of Plateau State, to Mangu Local Government Area. This change comes after several deadly attacks in the region.

The move aims to help security forces respond better to attacks in Mangu and nearby communities, where violence has caused many deaths and displaced people.

Williams Dangana, the Commander of Operation Safe Haven and General Officer Commanding, 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, announced the relocation on Wednesday while speaking to reporters in Mangu.

Mr Dangana said setting up the tactical headquarters in Mangu would allow military leaders to directly assess the security situation and react faster to new threats.

"Setting up a physical presence in Mangu will enable leadership to maintain direct, real-time assessment of the security situation and ensure timely tactical responses," he said.

He added that the move includes more troops, equipment, and logistics approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Waidi Shaibu.

"My being here is not just in person. I’m here with enablers, additional manpower and all the resources required to execute this mandate," Mr Dangana stated.

This decision follows a deadly attack on the Bin Mper community in Mangu Local Government Area.

Residents said gunmen attacked Bin Mper between the night of 17 August and the early hours of 18 August, going from house to house and attacking people in their homes.

Initially, residents told journalists that over 20 people had died, while several others were hurt and some were missing. PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm these initial casualty figures.

Amnesty International later reported that 24 people were killed in the attack, calling it one of the deadliest recent incidents in the state.

The rights group shared graphic images showing victims, including women and children, killed inside their homes. They urged for an investigation into the security failures that let the attackers operate in the area.

The Plateau State Police Command later confirmed the attack. Commissioner of Police, Ayodeji Faniyan, visited Bin Mper to assess the situation.

Mr Faniyan also delivered the condolence message of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to the community. He assured residents that those responsible would be found, arrested, and prosecuted.

The police mentioned that security has been strengthened in the area and urged residents to share any information that could help with the investigation.

The military headquarters' relocation means that the command structure responsible for security operations will now function from Mangu instead of Jos.

Mr Dangana said the military has also started Operation Hard Nut, aimed at breaking down armed groups and restoring safety in Mangu and nearby areas.

He said troops would maintain a consistent presence in the affected regions and work to clear communities of armed groups.

"We will systematically clear hostile elements and guarantee long-term safety for citizens of Mangu and its surroundings," he said.

The military commander did not share how many additional troops were deployed or how long the tactical headquarters would be in Mangu.

This move comes amid a series of attacks reported by PREMIUM TIMES in Plateau State recently.

The newspaper reported that gunmen killed Daniel Chong, a former councillor of Rim Ward in Riyom Local Government Area, during a late-night attack on Torok community.

Two security personnel were also killed when gunmen ambushed a joint security patrol along the Ganawuri-Sabon Gida Road in Riyom.

The attackers reportedly took the service rifles from the slain personnel.

After the ambush, troops of Operation Enduring Peace arrested 19 people in Tongoron community, Riyom, during a cordon-and-search operation.

The suspects included 14 local residents and five Fulani individuals, who were taken for profiling and questioning.

The military has also reported other operations against criminal groups in the state, including a recent encounter in Langtang North Local Government Area where troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and ammunition.

The latest deployment puts Mangu at the heart of the military’s response to the rising violence. Authorities expect to combine this increased presence with intelligence gathering and operations against armed groups.

This relocation happens just two weeks after Plateau State appointed a new Commissioner of Police, Mr Faniyan, who took office on 11 August.

At his first press conference on 14 August, the commissioner said he would focus on intelligence-led and technology-driven policing, crime prevention, and better cooperation with other security agencies.

He also asked residents to provide timely and credible information to security agencies, saying security relies on the partnership between the police and the community.

The military’s choice to move its tactical headquarters closer to affected communities is the latest major action to address the worsening situation in Plateau, especially where repeated attacks have raised concerns about civilian safety.