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Alli Deploys Helicopters to Fish Out Insurgents, As Plateau Marks One Month of
Emergency Rule

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
June 20, 2004
Posted to the web June 21, 2004

By Taye Obateru
Jos
Aerial patrol of the troubled parts and the boundary between Plateau and other
states have commenced as part of efforts to monitor the movement of trans-
border insurgents and other trouble makers.
Administrator of the state, Major-General Chris Alli disclosed this in a
broadcast to the people of the state at the weekend to mark one month of
emergency rule. He said the use of helicopters to patrol the boundaries and the
volatile areas would help detect the routes used by the insurgents from other
states as well as provide security cover for the people and the security forces
deployed to the areas.
He said every part of the state was now safe as there were no longer "no-go"
areas or illegal road blocks adding, "no part of the state is considered unsafe
any longer as citizens and the displaced persons are now free to move to places
of their choice."General Alli expressed satisfaction with the progress made so
far in the effort to restore peace to the state noting that the different
people that make up the state have demonstrated their preparedness to put the
past behind and forge ahead in peace. "Right now there is hope in the horizon.
There is a popular agitation for peace at all strata of society.
A common solidarity front on the issue of peace and unity of Plateau State is
beginning to emerge. The dark veil that has given reason to discountenance on
another is fading away."My dear people of Plateau State, this is the dawn of a
new era and by the grace of God, our situation will not remain the same", he
stated.
The administrator dismissed the belief in certain quarters that the state was
under siege assuring that with the measures in place no force from outside was
capable of invading the state especially when the people were united in
ensuring that the ugly past was put behind.
He therefore warned against rumour mongering which he said generated more
tension than the reality on ground and described rumour mongers as "worse than
the so-called mercenaries because they are the ones that poison the minds of
innocent people and disrupt the course of normal life."However, he acknowledged
the existence of discontentment over some issues among the people assuring that
opportunity would be given to the people to dialogue and resolve these issues
through a stake-holders conference to be arranged in due course. Alli explained
that "the position of government is predicated on the fact that peace cannot be
established by fiat, but by soothing frayed nerves and providing a sense of
belonging to all."
He thanked the Red Cross, the neighbouring states of Bauchi and Nasarawa and
the governments of Imo, Kebbi and Sokoto states for the assistance rendered to
the state towards ameliorating the plight of the displaced persons.

   

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