In view of the perpetual attacks on defenceless Plateau citizens in Jos South, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Langtang, Shendam, Wase, Qu’an pan and more recently the chilling and gruesome murder of 30 innocent women and children in Shonong village (in Bachit District of Riyom LGA), ViewPointNigeria has conducted an opinion poll to gauge people’s perception of how the Special Task Force (STF) has performed in their role of protecting the people.
In this opinion poll, four simple questions were asked to approximately 1342 residents with the view of understanding exactly how people perceive the STF and whether people thought they were doing a good job.
The polling was undertaken by three mediums (a) by face-to-face interviews in Jos, (b) online (using Facebook and emails) (c) by telephone. The face-to-face interviews were performed both within the metropolis of Jos and within some of the areas where attacks have persisted. Below are the results.
In view of the perpetual attacks on defenceless Plateau citizens in Jos South, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Langtang, Shendam, Wase, Qu’an pan and more recently the chilling and gruesome murder of 30 innocent women and children in Shonong village (in Bachit District of Riyom LGA), ViewPointNigeria has conducted an opinion poll to gauge people’s perception of how the Special Task Force (STF) has performed in its role of protecting the people.
In this opinion poll, four simple questions were asked to approximately 1342 residents with the view of understanding exactly how people perceive the STF and whether people thought they were doing a good job.
The polling was undertaken by three mediums (a) by face-to-face interviews in Jos, (b) online (using Facebook and emails) (c) by telephone. The face-to-face interviews were performed both within the metropolis of Jos and within some of the areas where attacks have persisted. Below are the results.
(1) How would you rate the performance of the STF in maintaining peace on the Plateau?
When people were quizzed by ViewPointNigeria’s researchers as to why they scored the STF low, they argued they could not recall many incidents where the STF was able to repel any attack or perhaps apprehend the attackers. Only recounting several instances where people were killed and maimed helplessly without any intervention.
In our analysis of the results however, we observed that an overwhelming number of people polled in the villages scored the STF low, as opposed to people who reside in Jos metropolis, who were more optimistic and therefore gave higher scores. In our opinion, the difference in outlook between people in the two locations could be due to the relative peace and stability being enjoyed within Jos metropolis in contrast to the perpetual attacks in the villages.
(2) Do you have confidence in the Special Task Force (STF)?
Approximately 68% of the people polled have expressed their distrust of the STF, with 20% expressing a “cautious” degree of trust. Whilst approximately 19% were unsure whether they could trust them or not –but overall, no more than 3% expressed a high degree of “Confidence” in their operation.
Asked why the low level of trust/confidence –most people suggested that the STF has been consistently accused by several communities as being complicit in the attacks and therefore it was difficult to bestow any confidence on them. They further argued that most reported attacks have been said to be carried out by people dressed in military paraphernalia, and therefore it was difficult to completely discount that fact.
(3) Are you optimistic that a solution to the endless attacks can be found through the current methods of using the STF in Plateau?
Unsurprisingly, people were incredibly persimistic about the possibility of ending the attacks using current methods. Over 70% of the people polled have expressed reservations at the possibility of ending the crisis using the current methods. With approximately 22% saying there was a small chance it could work, whilst only 7% were relatively optimistic.
The cynicism of people in this area is understandable, given that in the past few years the attacks have progressed steadily from bad to worse. For instance, it started (in 2001) with sticks and stones, then to matchetes and knives, then to locally made pistols, to automatic weapons and is currently in the phase of large assault weapons (AK 47s) etc. The cynicism was again more marked in the rural areas which have been under attacks as compared to Jos metropolis which is currently witnessing peace and stability.
(4) Should be STF be withdrawn from Plateau state?
Over half (53%) of the people polled have asked that the STF be withdrawn from Plateau state. On the contrary, 30% were still adamant that they should not be withdrawn and a further 17% were unsure whether or not they should be or not.
Again in the analysis of the responses, a trend was observed, that a large proportion of the people calling for their immediate removal were from the communities where attacks have lingered. And that inner city dwellers (i.e., residents of Jos metropolis) were either unsure of called for their continued stay.
When ViewPointNigeria’s researcher quizzed the villagers as to why they favoured the withdrawal of the soldiers, they stated that the soldiers have become a menace as opposed to a blessing to the communities. They argued that aside the unending attacks, which the STF has been unable to deal with, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancies have increased in their communities because their women and daughters have been coming in contact with the soldiers. They also said that their communities do not feel any safer, because even though the soldiers are situated close to their communities, the attacks have continued unabated.
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