Perceive tension in Plateau, STF hold town hall meetings, read riot act

The rising trend of a deadly cult group in Jos- north known as Sara-suka and the perceived crisis that might occur between farmers and herdsmen in Jos-south Local Government Area of the state, has attracted the attention of the Special Task Force in Plateau, as it moves to avert break down of law and order by holding town hall meetings with stake holders of the troubled areas, tasking them to warn their subjects.

The stakeholders meetings held at the STF headquarters in Jos to address the Sara-suka menace and the other in Barkin-ladi LGA, to address farmers herdsmen clash, saw the STF reading riot act to those that are bent to lead the state into another senseless round of crisis.

Speaking at the forum, addressing the Sara-suka menace, the STF commander, Major General Rogers Nicholas, said parents especially mothers prevent soldiers from arresting the cult group by refusing to bring them out whenever they ran into their homes but reiterates that any house that accommodates any sara-suka group will be brought down.

According to him, “we will not allow any sara-suka group to create trouble for us when we are having peace and i have warn that any house that shield the deadly group will be brought down; the other time our soldiers want to arrest some sara-suka group and some women came out and prevented, i have said that will not happen again and if i see those women again, i will treat them like men; there is a house we were told that is harbouring some of the sara-suka boys and i have instructed the sector two commander to go and bring the house down”, he said.

Gen. Nicholas said over 50 of the deadly group has been arrested but the court keep granting them bail and the next day you see them on the streets again, he said.

Similarly, at Barkin-ladi, the STF boss gave conditions for grazing which he said must be adhered as the decisions were reached in agreement with stakeholders.

The conditions reached were that 6:30pm is set as deadline for cattle rearers to graze and any herdsman that destroys a farm land will be made to pay as well as any cattle rustled will be met wit a fine.

Others are that no one should take the laws into their hands, every issue between famers and herdsmen should be reported to relevant authorities and that all grazing routes close should be open, he said.