By Amos Tauna
The Special Task Force (STF) Commander, Operation Safe Haven, in charge of Zango Kataf, Jema’a, Sanga and Kaura local government areas in Southern Kaduna, Maj. General Rogers Nicholas, has vowed to shoot any Fulani herdsman found rearing in the night.
The STF Commandant stated this at the Southern Kaduna Peace gathering (parley) organised by Citizen Monitoring group in Partnership with the STF Commandant Operation Safe Haven with the theme, “Critical and Needful: Peaceful, Conflict Action and Building Structures for Sustainable Peace.”
“What we have done to ensure peace in Jos will be reciprocated here in Southern Kaduna. Night rearing will not be allowed. If any Fulani man is caught rearing in the night, we’ll shoot him,” Rogers assured.
According to him, “We’ll soon have a surveillance helicopter that will be hovering around to help strengthen our operations here. Justice must be done to ensure peace is restored.”
He called on the Fulanis to always notify their Chiefs whenever there are foreign Fulanis, “If not they will be held responsible for any breach of security.
“We’ll not allow the circulation of arms and drugs abuse, if we catch anyone with this, by the powers of STF, we have the right to arrest you and detain as long as investigation is going on,” General Rogers promised.
In order to enhance better security, the STF Commandant advised, “Every Community must generate their local intelligence security that will be reporting directly to the STF.
He further maintained that the STF would embark on re-opening of Cattle route, stressing that herdsmen will be held responsible for any farm damage.
He urged the Fulanis not to send underage children for rearing who cannot control the cows when they derail into people’s farms.
While fielding questions from Journalists shortly after the meeting, the STF Commandant said, “Special operations have been designed to accompany farmers to their own farms by the personnel to ensure they are safe from any form of attacks.”
In his remark, the convener for the partnering bodies, Bishop Gideon Para-Mallam said that in ensuring peace, government was limited, adding that it must come with humility to work with credible bodies to promote peaceful co-existence among its people.
“What practical steps should we take to end the un-abated attacks and injustice in our land,” Bishop Gideon ask?
Member representing Jema’a/Sanga constituency Nicholas Garba Shehu, commended the resilient and practical steps taken by the STF adding, the Police must begin to act fast whenever they are called upon for any security breach before it escalates.
