Commander of the Special Task Force, Maj. Gen Henry Ayoola, has said the military has not been able to contain the spate of killings in Jos and environs because the attackers do not use conventional warfare.
Ayoola spoke when the Senator representing Plateau North, Gyang Pwajok, visited him in his office in Jos on Tuesday.
The commander said in a conventional warfare, the enemies would have some forms of identification; “whereas, in the case of the crises in Plateau State the STF has had to contend with the fact that the combatants are not known and has no form of identification, chooses time and place of attack and always achieve their aim because of these advantages”.
He said, “We have also realised that the problem before us falls within the realms of what we call asymmetric warfare. In asymmetric warfare, you are dealing with an unknown enemy. In a typical military operation, you know the enemy; he is wearing a uniform as you do. You don’t need to search for him because there is an identification mark. He carries weapon and so you know where he is located.
“But it is a different thing in asymmetric warfare because you don’t know the enemy; he has no location; there are no lines between you and him. He is among and within you; he know you, you don’t know him so he has all the advantages.”
He added, “The underlying principles must be addressed and that is the restoration of peace and order by the military is simply temporary. What will sustain law and order is sustainable and lasting peace. If you achieve law and order by enforcing it every day, that means that invariably, you have to keep men on the streets permanently and this is not the kind of peace we envisage.”
Pwajok had expressed worry over the continuous attack in his senatorial zone, which he said had inflicted psychological trauma on his people.
Pwajok said, “I am worried because these attacks have continued to inflict psychological trauma on the people just as it demoralises the officers and men, who, despite they are here to keep the peace, sometimes seem to be hindering the objectives.”
Meanwhile, the state police command intercepted a cache of arms and improvised explosive devices in the state capital.
The commissioner of Police, Chris Olakpe, said this on Tuesday when when Pwajok visited him in his office.