Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has sounded an alarm, asserting that fifth columnists have infiltrated the security agencies in Nigeria.
The governor made the claims during an appearance on Trust TV, highlighting the challenges security forces face in responding to coordinated attacks in Plateau State.
Plateau State recently witnessed coordinated attacks on 23 villages in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas, resulting in over 150 deaths and numerous injuries.
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Despite the presence of the military’s Operation Safe Haven and other security agencies in the state, there was outrage over the assailants’ ability to carry out attacks for hours without swift intervention.
Governor Mutfwang expressed concerns about the presence of fifth columnists within the security agencies, compromising their operations. He pointed out instances where security personnel were ambushed due to leaked information from within.
He emphasized the need for a thorough examination of the recruitment processes, urging President Bola Tinubu to provide a firm directive to ensure diligence in the ongoing recruitment processes.
The governor stressed the importance of removing wrong elements from the armed forces and security agencies, calling for mechanisms to identify and eliminate such individuals.
Mutfwang emphasized that addressing the infiltration of fifth columnists is crucial for maintaining professionalism, discipline, and empathy within the security services.
He said, “Let me also say this; fifth columnists have infiltrated the security agencies. This is a fact we must confront as a nation.
“There are many people who should not be there; they are agents of these criminals, and sometimes they even compromise their colleagues. And that is why you have a lot of ambushes sometimes when these security agencies are going on operations.
“Diligence must be observed to ensure that wrong elements are not recruited into the armed forces and the security agencies. But there must also be a mechanism to fish out these bad eggs within the security services.
“It is only when we do that, that there will be professionalism and discipline, and also some bit of empathy to the victims of these attacks.”
