The Plateau State Government said on Monday that the non-kinetic approach being employed by security operatives to bring the unrest in some communities of the state to an end has started to yield results as some of the bandits have turned in their weapons.
According to the government, seven AK-47 guns have been handed over to operatives of Operation Rainbow by bandits operating in Wase Local Government Area.
This was disclosed by Gakji Shipi, the Special Adviser to the Plateau State Governor on Security and coordinator of the state-owned Operation Rainbow security outfit.
Speaking with journalists in Jos, the state capital, he said: “This feat was made possible with the cooperation of the Wase Local Government authorities, leaders of the local vigilante groups, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), DSS and police.
“For quite some time now, we have been taking a look at the security situation bedevilling the state and apart from the kinetic approach, we have decided to adopt non-kinetic means to solve the problem.
“We have also decided to shift attention to other areas, especially Wase Local Government Area, which had had a fair share of armed banditry and the endeavours have started recording success.
“Some of the criminals and bandits have returned their weapons to us and you know we are still negotiating, but for fear of being prosecuted, some of them have surrendered their weapons to us without coming out. But with the confidence measures we are building, more will return their weapons as well as surrender to the authorities.
“We have started negotiations with them and you know these negotiations take time. It also takes time to build trust and for them to show goodwill, they have started to return their weapons.”
The governor’s aide, who did not disclose the number of bandits that had so far surrendered, said: “So far, seven AK-47s have been returned and if we take it that one belongs to one bandit, that means seven of them have renounced banditry. But, as I said, we are still negotiating.”