A security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Dr Appolos Kuchi, has called on the Plateau State government and security agencies in the state to take proactive measures to prevent an influx of terrorists into the state following the commencement of airstrikes targeted at terrorists’ enclaves in Sokoto State by the United States.

With the US promising to carry out similar airstrikes in other states where terrorists and bandits have been holding sway, Dr Kuchil fears some of the fleeing terrorists could find their way to Plateau due to the porous nature of the state boundaries if not checked.

The security expert, who spoke to DAILY POST in a telephone chat on Sunday, said the terrorists see Plateau as a soft target with easy access and could decide to flock into the state.

“We all know that Plateau State shares borders with several states, including Bauchi, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kaduna, and even the FCT,” Kuchil said.

“With the US airstrike, the terrorists have been thrown into a panic mode, and the most natural place they are likely to go would be Plateau State,” he noted.

The security analyst further stated that in the past two decades, Plateau State has been the epicenter of violent attacks by bandits and terrorists because they always found it easy to penetrate the state.

“Their pattern, as we have noticed, has been getting into the state from Bauchi and Nasarawa, but with the panic they have been thrown into, they could use other routes like Taraba and Kaduna to move into Plateau.

“Also, we should not forget that the state has been their playground for several years without a check, and they could use this window to move in massively.

“I am using this opportunity to call on the state government and the relevant security authorities to man the borders properly to checkmate any attempt by the terrorists to flock into the state and carry out their nefarious activities,” Dr Kuchil advised.