Plateau Killings: Buhari Support Group Condemns Redeployment Of Army Commander

The Buhari Tarzarce Vanguard (BTV), a support group championing the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Bujari, has flayed the redeployment of the commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in Plateau State, Major General Anthony Atolagbe.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had announced the redeployment of the former OPSH commander a few days ago.

While appealing to the DHQ to rescind its group decision, the group maintained that doing otherwise send wrong signalst o the natives, who have confidence in the capacity of OPSH under Atolagbe to prosecute the defence mandate, professionally.

According to the BTV, there are fears in some quarters that the posting of Atolagbe out of the state, may not be unconnected with the arrests of some suspected herdamen, in connection with recent crisis in the state.

Though the Buhari support group acknowledged that postings and redeployments were a prerogative of the military authorities, they argued that the timing was wrong and suspicious, hence the appeal for a return to the status quo.

In a statement signed by its coordinator, Alhaji Muhamed Biba, Wednesday, the group alleged that the courage exhibited by the commander in arresting the suspected herdsmen alleged to be involved in the last crisis, may have facilitated his posting out of the state.

Arising from the foregoing, the BTV charged the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin, to either rescind his decision, or the military authorities be ready to be held responsible for any further bloodshed in the state.

“We are indeed shocked! When we woke up to this reality. Citizens are thrown aback by the decision of the Defense Headquarters to further dim our chance in 2019 by redeploying a focused military officer who was bent on restoring lasting peace to the North Central.

“This is not only sad, but very disheartening and does not project our great party and Mr President’s fight against terrorism in good light, “the group said.

“How do you redeploy an officer who has made far- reaching positive discoveries on the most challenging and hidden sources of problems bedevilling the entire country? What is the reason for his sudden redeployment?

“Why is the redeployment coming at a time that very critical arrests have been made and useful revelations made indicting prominent people? Why the deployment at a time the opposition and and a section are maliciously accusing the Presidency and the North for being behind these herdsmen?

“Is it that the military high command doesn’t really want an end to this conflict for their game? The president must rise up and stand with the people once again by ordering immediate reversal of the posting of Commander of STF in Jos, this will restore confidence in the entire North Central states.”

“While BTV appreciates the fact that postings and redeployment is a routine military traditions, we must state that this particular one is done in a bad faith and will greatly affect our chances in North Central in 2019 and the Presidency must act now to forestall further damage.

“Our party is already facing a lot of challenges in the North Central states due to the farmers/ herdsmen conflicts and if this posting is not reversed immediately, sentiments will rise and will greatly affect our chance,

“We are constrained to note that, upon all these milestone achievements, which are in line with president Buhari’s policy direction on security , it was left to be seeing why and how the defense headquarter could contemplate the commanders redeployment at this critical time when opposition are looking for campaign”, the group said.