By Cross Udo, Linus Aleke (Abuja), and Israel Joel (Jos)
The Federal Government yesterday looked for Japan to assist her in the fight of multiple security threats confronting the country.

Nigeria also said it will provide all requirements to fast-track the emergence of a win-win, mutually beneficial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will be a Force Multiplier to ending insecurity in the country.

Minister of Defence Maj.-Gen Bashir Magashi (retd.) said this when the Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Nigeria, Mr Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, paid him a courtesy call at Ship House, Abuja.

He said the bilateral visit is opening up new areas of mutual military bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Japan.

Special Assistant to the Minister of Defence on Media and Publicity, Mohammad Abdulkadri, in a statement, said the defence relationship with Japan will help mitigate the current insecurity facing the country.

He said both countries should tap into new diplomatic openings to rejig the existing cooperation, especially in the areas of technological innovations and transfer.

The defence minister thanked the envoy for the visit and called on him to initiate the template for the proposed MoU that will meet national aspirations to end insecurity in Nigeria.

Japanese envoy, Kazuyoshi, who was escorted on the courtesy call by the defence attaché to Nigeria, Uchiumi Kazuaki, told the minister that Japan has developed a better approach for peace and stability in Africa and Nigeria is the focal point of interest for the implementation plans.

According to Kazuyoshi, the proposed MoU will strengthen continuous security information exchange, training, and more reconstruction assistance in the North-East that will surpass the $14 million defence contract in 2021.

Nigeria-Japan diplomatic ties date back to1960.
The Japanese ambassador described the over 60 years of diplomatic relations as a circle of life between the two countries.

In another development, three students of Plateau State Polytechnic kidnapped on Wednesday have been rescued unharmed by troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) deployed at Barkin Ladi.

Military Information Officer, OPSH, Major Ishaku Takwa, in a statement, said the troops deployed at Nding Sesut, a remote community in Barkin Ladi, noticed an unusual movement of persons during patrols.

“Troops immediately conducted cordon and search in the general area that led to the rescue of the three students at an abandoned poultry farm.

“The victims have since been united with their families. Manhunt to apprehend the suspects is still ongoing,” the statement disclosed.
While commending the vigilance and efforts of the troops, the Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Major-General Ibrahim Ali, commended the law-abiding citizens who provided credible information to the security agencies.

He reiterated his resolve to make the Plateau state a difficult terrain for criminals to operate.

Reports had said terrorists, known locally as bandits, had stormed Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi Campus, and abducted two female students.

It was also reported that bandits and herdsmen had in the last 48 hours gone on the rampage in Plateau State, killing people and kidnapping several persons.

Recently, the terrorists kidnapped the wife of Silas Vem, the deputy chief of staff to the deputy governor of Plateau State, Dorcas.

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Mrs. Vem was abducted in front of her house, close to Government House in Rayfield, Jos while returning from an outing.

Another set of armed men also abducted a director in the state ministry of health, Dr. Samuel Audu, in front of his house in Barkin Ladi.

Mrs. Dorcas Vem and Dr. Samuel Audu were later released.

On Monday night, three persons were killed, while two others were injured at Tyana community in Riyom local government area.

The deceased were said to have been ambushed and killed while returning to the community from Riyom town.

Buhari condemns Plateau killings
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness about the fresh killings in Bassa local government of Plateau State, saying that the recent incident is not in keeping with the principles of the peace agreements reached between the Irigwe and the Fulani in the area.

The president, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in Abuja last night, said, “My thoughts are with the families of the victims in this time of grief. May their souls rest in peace.”

He urged the various communities in the area, and particularly the Plateau State Interreligious Council, to do everything possible to commit to the peace agreement and prevent it from falling apart.

“Every group taking the law into their hands claims to be retaliating. As a society, there is no place for this sort of violence. This is unacceptable,” the president said.

He commended Governor Simon Lalong for the state government’s handling of the incident so far.

•Rep urges calm
Also, a member of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau), has condemned the recent killings and wanton destruction of property in Ancha Community in Iregwe chiefdom of Bassa local government area of Plateau State.

Gagdi, representing Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam Federal Constituency, made the condemnation in a statement yesterday in Jos.

The gunmen on Tuesday night killed 18 persons, injured six, and razed down 24 houses in Ancha community.

Gagdi described the act as criminal and called on security agencies to intensify efforts toward ending the circle of attacks in the state.

“Again, we rise to the tragic news of the gruesome attack on Ancha community, resulting in the killing of law-abiding citizens of the state.

“While I commiserate with the government and people of Plateau over this tragic incident, I condemn in totality the continued killing of Plateau people by blood-thirsty marauders who have found prey in innocent people.

“I call on the security operatives to be proactive in securing the lives and property of Plateau people and Nigerians in general.

“We are living in perilous times when the sanctity of human lives means nothing to these blood-sucking vampires. But we will continue to trust in God that one day, they shall all meet their waterloo.

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“I strongly believe that serenity will return to the state as nothing has ever hampered the peace and tourism potential, which our state is endowed with,” he said.

Gagdi, who prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased, urged the community not to take the law into their hands but allow security agencies to find a lasting solution to the problem.