Attackers disguised as NDLEA operatives to strike – Mutfwang

The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, has revealed that gunmen responsible for the recent deadly attack in Jos disguised as operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to gain access to the community before opening fire.

The governor, however, disclosed that no arrests have been made in connection with the incident, which occurred in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, on Sunday, leaving at least 28 persons dead and several others injured.

On Thursday, President Bola Tinubu paid a condolence visit to Plateau State, where he met bereaved families, traditional rulers, and government officials, and directed security agencies to arrest those responsible.

Speaking during a one-on-one interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Mutfwang explained that the attackers exploited a familiar security pattern to deceive residents and inflict damage on the community.

Obviously, the attackers have studied the psychology of the people who are used to seeing operatives of the NDLEA who come to raid neighbouring communities in search of drug addicts and what have you.

“So, they came in that manner, hooded, and were shooting in the manner NDLEA officers used to shoot. So people took it for granted that it was an NDLEA incursion… and they didn’t resist it initially.

“But when they realised it, a lot of damage had been done. And before they could wake up to begin to pursue these attackers, they had made an escape. It’s quite unfortunate,” he said.

On efforts to apprehend the perpetrators, the governor said security agencies were working with credible intelligence.

At the moment, no arrests have been made in regard to this particular attack. But I’d like to assure Plateau people and Nigerians that we have some actionable intelligence that the security agencies are following up,” he stated.

He declined to provide further details, citing ongoing investigations.

“We have some very useful leads that we hope will be able to lead us to who these attackers are. I don’t want to make a premature statement as to their identities,” he added.

The governor described the attack as premeditated and professionally executed, noting that the assailants displayed advanced weapon-handling skills.

Mutfwang noted that both residents and security operatives were “blindsided” due to the relative peace the state had enjoyed over the past 10 months.

While acknowledging public outrage over the killings, the governor cautioned against reprisals, urging residents to remain law-abiding.

He warned that the attackers’ objective was to destabilise the state and undermine recent peace building efforts.