Fulani Herdsmen Attack: STF moves to escort farmers
The incessant attack on farmers by Fulani herdsmen, especially the most recent genocide that rocked southern Kaduna, has spurred the Special Task Force (STF) to resolve to accompany farmers to their vocation.
Speaking to newsmen men in a trans-border patrol at Nimbia, a forest location between the border town of Kaduna and Plateau states, the STF Commander, Major-General Rogers Nicholas, stated that it has become necessary to protect farmers while going to farm and to escort them back to their homes.
In his words: “Farmers have become naturally scared of a Fulani man even when herdsmen appears un-harm, farmers don’t feel comfortable sighting their presence.
“So we have resolved to escort them to farm, stay with them and bring them back home when they are done for the day,” the General said.
Our correspondent reports that the move by the Nigeria Army to provide security to farmers is part of Military civil relationship aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the people.
In pursuant of this, the army has also constructed three boreholes in Bokkos, Mahanga in Riyom and Wase local government areas of Plateau state, adding that more communities will benefit from the gesture.
At Tenti Babba in Bokkos where one of the bore holes was commissioned, the STF boss explained that the three boreholes was constructed as part of their Civil-Military relationship.
General Nicholas said more of such boreholes will be made available to the people in Jos north and Gengre local government areas adding that the funds for the boreholes were provided by the Chief of Defense Staff.
As part of strategy for the sustenance of peace, the General said the taskforce was willing to allow communities come up with neighborhood watch groups like the Civilian JTF in the Northeast, on the condition that such groups must be controlled. “They must work with us or the police because we
don’t want them getting excessive powers to use force on people. However, the people know the terrain better than us and we cannot be in every location so we are willing to work with communities that come up with such group.”
