Insecurity: Abductors of Plateau monarch demand N500m ransom—Military

The special task force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) maintaining peace in Plateau and environs, has said the abductors of Sum Pyem, Mr. Charles Mato, have demanded N500 million ransom.

Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, the Commander of OPSH, said this when officials of Correspondents Chapel of Plateau Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists visited him on Wednesday in Jos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen on December 26 abducted Mato, the Paramount Ruler of Gindri in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau at his residence.

Ali, who doubles as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Rukuba, near Jos, said that his troops have arrested some suspects in connection with the crime.

“The abductors of the traditional ruler have called and demanded a ransom of N500 million to secure his release. We have arrested some suspects. They are in our custody.

“These are people we feel have knowledge of the incident. We have picked them up and they are being interrogated,” he said.

The Commander said his men have been deployed to the area to conduct search and rescue operation.

Ali, who further decried the rise in the spate of kidnapping in the country, said that security agencies are on top of their game toward ending the menace

“Kidnapping is one of the major problems in this country; it is increasing on daily basis. You can be kidnapped by anybody, anytime and anywhere.

“But we are working round the clock and have put modalities on ground to end the menace,” Ali said.

He urged journalists to use their various platforms to support the military in their bid to end all forms of insecurity in the country.

Earlier, Mr Gyang Bere, Chairman of the Chapel, said the visit was to familiarise with the Commander, strengthen existing relationship and seek further collaborations.

He commended the Commander for the cooperation he accorded his colleagues by always providing information that would facilitate balanced coverage of the Command’s operations.

Bere also commended the Commander for his contribution to the relative peace being enjoyed in the state and urged him to do more.

Meanwhile, Former Army Intelligence Officer and security expert, Colonel Hassan Stan-Labo (retd), has urged the Federal Government to deploy drones in the fight against insecurity in the country.

This is as he lamented that technology is not playing the needed role in the fight against insecurity especially in the North-East which is the worst-hit region.

Stan-Lebo said this while speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

“What are drones for? By now, these things should be everywhere. I wonder what is really holding us back from taking some of these steps. Today we have fantastic drones in the market that will carry out surveillance capabilities,” he said.

“All you need do is to sit at an operations room, give out the command, press the buttons and the drones will be busy doing all the jobs, sending in results and so on. By now we should be engaging drones.”

The security expert called for more lucrative salaries and welfare packages for servicemen, saying such would boost their morale.

He also urged government to consider the plight of those who are retired after years of effort in service.

“Why are we still delaying whatever we need to do concerning the enhancement of manpower within the security sector?

“I have not yet seen a reasonable level of urgency being exerted by this government to see that we enhance manpower. Manpower has become a major problem with us in the military, likewise the police,” he added.

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