By Taye Obateru
Jos: The Special Task Force (STF) maintaining security in Plateau State said tighter security measures have been introduced to ensure peace in the state throughout the election period.

This is coming on the heels of the killing early Thursday of three people on a mining site at  Mararaban Foron in Barakin-Ladi Local Government Area by unknown assailants. A similar attack on the Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Vom left two people dead on Tuesday.

Briefing journalists at the end of a State Security Council meeting on Thursday, Commander of the STF, Brigadier-General Hassan Umaru said movement of vehicles would be resisted from 12 midnight of every Friday preceding an election day all over the state to forestall any security breach.

He said the tighter security measures which would include a thorough search of vehicles might bring some inconveniences but appealed for understanding and cooperation from the people as “whatever inconvenience or irritation these measures may cause are insignificant in relation to their goal of guaranteeing safety of lives and property in the state.”

The STF commander added:  “I have directed that all vehicles coming into the state be thoroughly searched for arms and explosives, hence you will witness heightened security presence at all the entry points into the state throughout the election period.

“As the attention of the entire world turns to Nigeria, the anxious question on most people’s mind is what will happen in Plateau state? I am sure that I speak the minds of all peace loving citizens of this beautiful state when I say it will be well on the Plateau”.

Umaru who was flanked by the Director of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr Christian Ojobor; the Commander of the NAF Station, Jos , Air Commodore David Akpofue ; and other top security officers , said Plateau state and Nigeria could not afford to fail in the coming election since free and credible election was a global criterion for assessing a country’s standing democratically.

In another development, the Plateau State Police Command confirmed the midnight attack on local miners at Mararaban Forom leaving three dead and another three injured. A police statement identified those killed as Gyang Pam, Moses Barry and Sunday Angweng.

The killings resulted in a protest by youths in the area who blocked the highway, but the roadblock was cleared by security agents.

The police statement said investigation into the incident had commenced but no arrest has been made.
Meanwhile,Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has declared today (Friday) as a public holiday, to enable people participate massively in tomorrow’s election.

A statement signed by the Director of Press Affairs in the Governor’s Office, Mr. James Mannok, only those on essential services would be required to be at their duty posts and quoted the governor as encouraging workers to troop out en masse to exercise their civic rights.