The Special Task Force (STF) maintaining peace in Plateau as defended its actions in the recent Shonong attacks in Riyom Local Government Council of Plateau. This was stated in a statement released by the STF media officer Captain Salisu Mustapha.

Mustapha dismissed the accusation of poor or slow response to the attack on the village insisting that the situation would have been worse but for the intervention of its members. He said that the STF responded swiftly to the distress call and repelled it.

The Special Task Force (STF) maintaining peace in Plateau as defended its actions in the recent Shonong attacks in Riyom Local Government Council of Plateau. This was stated in a statement released by the STF media officer Captain Salisu Mustapha.

Mustapha dismissed the accusation of poor or slow response to the attack on the village insisting that the situation would have been worse but for the intervention of its members. He said that the STF responded swiftly to the distress call and repelled it.

He said “The STF wishes to use this medium to refute such reports by informing the general public particularly the good people of Plateau State that on the said date at about 9:30am, troops received a distress call by some members of the community about an attack on two persons who were on their way to the farm by suspected Fulani militia”.

“STF personnel deployed around the area swiftly moved to the scene of the incident to repel the attack. However, on reaching there, it was discovered that the persons were killed and at the same time the entire village was under attack by dozens of armed men. The assailants immediately went on burning huts, farm produce and attacking innocent people. Troops quickly called for reinforcement, repelled the attackers and secured the area”.

The Plateau state commissioner for Information and Communication on his part described the killing as barbaric and promised that measures will be put in place to thwart future attacks. He said “It is becoming increasingly apparent that the attackers’ tactic is to displace communities and ultimately occupy their homes by striking them with terror and unwarranted fury. However, these will not succeed due to security measures being taken and increased community vigilance.

“The Plateau State Government is working with the various security structures on ground and is adopting extra measures to defeat this emerging insurgency that aims at decimating and displacing communities to occupy their land. Government appeals to Plateau people to maintain greater alertness and work with security agencies to keep Plateau safe at all times”.

This is coming just as the Plateau State Chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) called on the STF to be proactive and tackle the incessant killings in the state. The body in a communique after its congress called on STF to investigate the allegation of complexity of its personnel in its operation. It stated that the various complaints levelled by villagers on STF’s personnel involvement in the attacks and killings should not be brushed away.NUJ warned that its members will have no option than to boycott activities of STF if it doesn’t act to stop the cycle of attacks and killings.

It will be recalled that there have been widespread condemnation of the attack with calls for the appraisal or total withdrawal of the STF. Some people contacted by our correspondent wondered why attacks and killings continue unabated despite the fact that the STF personnel have been mandated to maintain security in the entire state. Most people believe it’s a cycle that will keep on re-occurring until something is done fast to curtail the trend.

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Shonong killings: STF says it responded swiftly and repelled the attack