A former Governor of Plateau State and Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District Simon Bako Lalong is elated that the efforts to put an end to incessant attacks on people of Barkin Ladi Local Government and other areas in Plateau State which commenced during his term as Governor has come to fulfillment with the commissioning of the Mobile Police Barracks in Gashish.
Lalong who represented Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Chairman Committee on Power Eyinnaya Abaribe at the event said the establishment of the Mobile Police Base was a major step towards ensuring that the unfortunate Gashish attacks that killed over 200 people in 2018 among others does not occur again.
This was contained in a statement by Dr. Makut Simon Macham, Special Adviser on Media to Senator Lalong.
He said “today, I can say I am a fulfilled man for at least three or more reasons. The first reason is that the unfortunate attacks on Gashish happened at the time I was Governor of Plateau State. The second reason is that the efforts we made to ensure that this kind of tragic attack on our people never re-occurs again has now been fulfilled with the commissioning of the Mobile Police Barracks which we are witnessing in Gashish this day”.
Senator Lalong noted that this very important project suffered delays due to many factors, including funding which was finally resolved with the intervention of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC).
“Again, I was not only central to the establishment of N-HYPPADEC, but lobbied profusely for the inclusion of this project into the programmes of the agency. I want to specially commend the Board and Management of the Commission for accepting to implement this key project”.
According to him, the establishment of this Mobile police barracks is a game changer in recalibrating the security architecture of not only Gashish, but the entire Barkin Ladi Local Government and Plateau State at large. Bringing law enforcement agencies closer to the people will go a long way in ensuring that any security threat is tackled with speed and efficiency.
Secretary to Government of the Federation Senator George Akume who commissioned the Mobile Police Base said the project is in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu Administration which prioritises security and safety of Nigerians particularly people of the rural areas.
He said the Tinubu Administration will not spare any effort to ensure that farmers and rural dwellers have adequate security to live on their ancestral lands or any chosen location to pursue their livelihoods without any fear or threat.
Akume commended the N-HYPPADEC for carrying out the project and also appealed to the police management to put the facility into good use while ensuring that the people of the area get adequate protection from attackers masquerading under different forms.
Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang represented by the Secretary to the State Government Arch. Samuel Jatau said the
people have suffered many unfortunate attacks with many lives lost and many displaced.
He said the State Government appreciates the partnership of the Federal Government towards meeting its objective of ensuring that displaced people return to their communities and ancestral lands.
Managing Director of N-HYPPADEC Alh. Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa said the Commission carried out the project in response to the desire of the government of Plateau State during the administration of Senator Simon Bako Lalong when the request was made.
He commended the current administration of Plateau State for doing the needful, urging them to continue to ensure that the Base becomes fully operational.