STF refutes Journalist report on Plateau crisis

The Special Task Force (STF), otherwise known as Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), has refuted a report published by the Punch Newspaper alleging that the task force aid Fulani herdsmen to graze on farm lands.

In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the task force, Major Umar Adams and made available to our correspondent Monday, it reads:

“The attention of the Special Task Force code name Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) has been drawn to a publication as published by the Punch Newspaper edition of Saturday 24th March 2018, captioned ‘Plateau Killings: Soldiers in Hilux Van lead herdsmen and cow to graze on our farm land – district head, victims, survivors recount expectations’.

“The report came to the OPSH as a rude shock considering the fact that the taskforce has the mandate to protect and restore peace in the troubled zones of Plateau State.

“It is on record that the efforts of the OPSH in maintaining peace on the Plateau among communities, gave reasons for the Defense Headquarters to be extend it’s mandate to some parts of Bauchi State and recently Southern Kaduna.

“Before the recent face-off between the Plateau natives and Fulani’s sprang up, the task force has held series of town hall meetings between stakeholders of the Waring communities, besieging them to coexist.

“How then can a reporter who felt because of his personal grudge with the OPSH took to his pen to write maliciously.

“The report was ill motivated as he also misquoted the Fulani’s and for fairness and objectivity which is what the professional ethics of Journalism stipulates, the reporter would have stick to the ethics, rather than misleading his audience.

“Journalists are supposed to be nation builders, but unfortunately some of them take sides when reporting issues of conflicts.

“We implore the Punch Newspapers to kindly not allow a reporter with questionable integrity to bring their works of past years to disrepute.

“The taskforce will not take it kindly with anyone who is bent on escalating the tension that has been curtailed by the tireless efforts of the OPSH who have also lost its personnel in the process of maintaining peace in the troubled zones.

“The task force will also be forced to take legal action against such unprofessional reportage which is not only viewed as defamation of image, but also capable of throwing the State into needless crisis”, the statement reads. will enhance the function of AVSEC.