Army Tightens Security In Jos As Crime Rate Increases

Residents of Jos, Plateau State on Friday awoke to armed operatives of the Special Task Force who took over the city.

The Commander, Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, said the heavy deployment of military personnel was to forestall breakdown of law and order, following security reports.

Nicholas says that the crackdown was also as a result of increase in violent crimes, which he attributed to the infiltration of intruders from outside the state.

According to the commander, the black spots in the city are Ahmadu Bello Way, Mosalachin Juma’a, Rwang Pam Street, and Murtala Muhammed Way, being the city’s major commercial centres.

He further stated that the fight against insurgency in the North-East had forced many Boko Haram members to seek safe haven in Jos and other contiguous states.

Nicholas added that the military was enforcing the ban on the operation of motorcycles in Jos and Bukuru metropolis and introducing the restriction of the operation of commercial tricycles in Jos and its environs between 9 pm and 5 am until further notice.

Similarly, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adekunle Oladunjoye, blamed the economic downturn in the country for the increasing crime rate.

Oladunjoye, however, added that the economy was not an excuse for anyone to indulge in antisocial behaviour.

The police boss noted that the command had swung into action, following complaints by the business community in Jos.