The Joint Task Force, Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP), has explained the circumstances surrounding a viral video showing an encounter between soldiers and police officers in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
In a statement on Monday, the task force’s Media Information Officer, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, said troops were responding to a distress call over sporadic gunfire in Mai Farin Moto, Maraban Dere and neighbouring communities on October 20.
The call also reported the killing of a resident, identified as Adamu Suleiman.
Oteh said the troops were deployed to assess the security situation, protect lives and property, and prevent further violence. On arrival, they attempted to engage police officers operating in the area to coordinate their response.
However, he said the encounter was marked by a lack of cooperation from some police personnel, despite efforts to de-escalate tensions.
The statement comes after a video circulated on social media alleging that soldiers blocked a police convoy during a clearance operation targeting a suspected bandit hideout in the Rafiki area of Bassa.
Oteh said the matter was being handled through appropriate command and inter-agency channels to establish the facts and prevent a recurrence. He urged the public and media organisations to verify information before sharing it.
OPEP reaffirmed its commitment to protecting residents and maintaining peace in Plateau State, stressing that effective security operations require cooperation and coordination among agencies.
