Troops disperse youths, curb vigilante firing during curfew enforcement in Mangu
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 8, Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP), have dispersed a crowd of youths who resisted the enforcement of a government-imposed curfew at Chichim Community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Zagazola Makama reports that the incident occurred at about 9:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22, when troops enforcing the curfew encountered local youths who were reportedly refusing to comply with the restriction.
The situation resulted in an altercation between the youths and the troops.
The troops, however, applied minimal and non-lethal force to disperse the crowd and prevent the situation from escalating.
In a related development, troops at about 9:50 p.m. responded to reports of sporadic gunshots within the community.
Upon arrival at the location, the troops encountered some local vigilantes who admitted to firing the shots.
The vigilantes reportedly told the troops that they had observed suspicious movements in the area, prompting them to open fire.
The troops warned the vigilantes against taking the law into their own hands and urged them to remain law-abiding while reporting suspicious activities to the appropriate security authorities.
The troops are currently dominating the general area to prevent a breakdown of law and order and ensure compliance with the curfew.
The development highlights the need for restraint and coordination among communities, vigilante groups and security agencies, particularly in areas affected by heightened security concerns.
