The Special Task Force (STF) Operation Safe Haven was established by the federal government in 2010, as a result of violent crises that bedevilled Plateau state. JIBRIN BABA NDACE and MUHAMMAD TANKO SHITTU examine the STF and its role in maintaining peace and order, conflict resolution and peace building process in the past years
The beginning
In 2010, Jos the Plateau state capital and its environs were engulfed in violent crisis. The first spate of violence of 2010 started on 17 January and lasted at least four days. Houses, churches, mosques and vehicles were set ablaze during the fighting. At least 200 people were killed.
This wanton destruction of lives and property in Jos metropolis and its environs was beyond the containment capacity of the NPF and the troops of Operation MESA already operating in the State. It was estimated that over 326 people were killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed. On 19 January 2010, widespread violence erupted on a large scale in Jos, Bukuru, Riyom villages in Jos South and Barkin Ladi, Pankshin and Mangu Local Government Areas. The state Police Command immediately deployed in Jos metropolis for IS operation. The unprecedented scale of killings and arson necessitated the large scale reinforcement from NA formations and units outside Jos.
Consequently, the Police handed over to the military on 21 January 2010. The mobilized force was later designated Special Task Force (STF) to conduct Operation SAFE HAVEN with the GOC 3 Division as the Commander. The mission of the STF was to maintain law and order in Plateau State in aid of civil authority. The main aim was the restoration of peace and security of Jos and its environs while the concept of operation was to contain the conflict. It was also to provide conducive atmosphere for management of the conflict.
Investigation revealed that the plan for the operation by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) demonstrated a visionary leadership. “Based on the force composition, there was evidence that, to a large extent, detailed threat analysis based on intelligence report was made. The personnel were quickly deployed covering the entire 8 sectors that the State had been divided into. There was emphasis was the flash points as well as key and vulnerable points. The use of roadblocks as well as check points was also employed. Within 2 days of its deployment, the STF restored law and order in Jos metropolis.
Blueprint investigation revealed that since inception of the STF in 2010 , it has focused on maintaining peace and order despite huge challenges its faced due to the intricate nature of the areas as well as its special idiosyncrasy. To achieve the set objectives, it has given special attention to crises prone areas such as Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government areas.
While the STF has over time succeeded in restoring calmness and maintaining the relative peace, for quite some times now in Jos North, and some few areas where the crises has existed for a shorter period, the bulk of the work now, is indeed left in the localities of Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas.
It is obvious that previous regimes of the STF commanders have made their positive impact in the peace building process, applying both lethal and none lethal approach to it. They also engaged various communities in civil military relations. Despite these efforts, there are still security challenges in Jos North, Barkin Ladi and Riyom local governments.
Another area where crises have persisted are Jos North, Bassa and Jos East local government areas in the northern senatorial zone of the state. The crisis within the area has been as a result of attacks and counter attacks among Fulani herdsmen and the Berom. Investigation by Blueprint revealed that these attacks have been occasioned activities of criminal elements in the area who have been involved in cattle theft and rustling. There have been communal crisis due to encroachment into farm land in the suburbs of Jos South, Barkin Ladi as well as Riyom.
Perception of STF
Since, its establishment in 2010, STF has been accused of various crimes such as being biased, late response to distress call by communities. Indeed, there have been allegations of complicity against STF.
This has resulted in hostility towards the troops of STF. This wrong perception and rejection of the troops by some communities is a major predicament to their duties.
Though, these allegations have been denied by STF. The STF Media/Information Officer, Captain Salisu Mustapha said that their duty is to protect lives and protect in Plateau state adding that the officers and men of STF are focused on ensuring safety of lives and properties of the people, including that of the herdsmen.
He said: “We have been carrying out our duties un-biasedly, our commander and command never has condoned indiscipline. When reports reached to us, we always respond swiftly, trying to protect the villagers from further unpredicted danger. Unfortunately, the community tends to be hostile to the troops.”
Speaking on these allegations, the paramount ruler of the Berom, Gbong Gwon Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, while receiving STF when it embarked on peace sensitization tour said those who have any cogent prove of the STF complicity should report to the appropriate authority for necessary action..
The STF Commander who inherited criminality
The new commanders, Major General David Enetie, who was posted to the new command about five month ago, took to his new place of assignment over 30 years of both staff and command appointments at home and abroad.
This is in addition to various training for Junior Division, Senior Division and National Defence College for tactical and strategic courses.
Eniete, who is a core infantry officer, was a sector commander, while on a United Nations Mission in Darfur. He was promoted to Major General in 2012. He is a member of Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Regular Combatant Course 26.
Even though, the clear mandate for the commander was to consolidate on the peace process. Investigation revealed he has inherited some criminalities such as theft, cattle rustling, attacks and armed robbery.
In addition to the above, there have been different dimension the crisis in the plateau. Blueprint investigation revealed that land, boundary and other communal issues have continued to ignite crisis within these communities. Some of these communities which has witnessed spate of killings in the areas included Heipang, Foron, Gero, Fan, Kassa, Zadian, Rapian, Gana ropp, Shonon, Rasak, Lwa and Tare among others.
Gashsih and Mahanga villages have also been in the news due to persistent attacks and counter attacks as well, but it was gathered that the positive efforts of the STF, has now made it possible for the areas to be crises less zone.
“While the persistent trouble of this localities, was predicated as earlier mentioned, that of Zadian in Ganawuri area of Riyom, which has been occurring between the Atakar tribe and the herdsmen was discovered to have been as a result of land dispute. While to some people the violence has the semblance of theft, to others it was yet, not known why the trouble in between the two that have lived peacefully in the past decades has evolved.”
Speaking on the crisis in plateau state, President of the Aten Development Association (ADA), Mr Chom Bagu, said: “Ganawuri has been in the news lately, not because of its vibrant culture, but for the very wrong reason, violence. Though the violence has been extensively reported by the media, there have been distortions that could set the stage for more violence in the future.”
According to him, politicians who were neither from the area nor visiting the scene of the violence, have been over heating the whole issues, saying their words as reported by the media were assumed that “..the Ganawuri violence was like others..”
He further said: “for decades the Atakar have been agitating to claim the ownership of land giving to them by the Aten when they have been expelled by their kinsmen in Fadan Atakar, Kaduna State.”
Similarly, the Wase crises is said to be more of land conquest and chieftaincy struggle than it appears to the outsiders, though at a certain time the issue of theft and cattle rustling had featured, but for some times now it has not been the focal issue.
According to the Emir of Wase, His Royal Highness Dr. Sambo Haruna Abdullahi, the Tarok ethnic group of Langtang Local Governmen Area of the state have a mission to takeover Wase territory in an attempt to extend its track of land, stressing that the Taroks by origin are not part of Wase.
“We do not launch any attack on them so they should leave us alone,”he said. “Many people lost their lives and property worth millions of naira were also destroyed includinding rustling of cows.”
However, Tarok Youth leader from Langtang North, Istifanus Ayuba, differ with the emir on the issue. He said: “It is not possible for us to make an attempt at taking over Wase territory. But what we want is for our Chiefdom of Kadarko, to be reinstated.”
In Bokkos, the violence that featured was merely traced to be an act of armed robbery and cattle rustling carried out in connivance between the Fulani and Challa tribes in the area. However, the perpetrators of the crimes have been apprehended by the STF.
Proliferation of small arms and light weapons
One of the major challenges in Nigeria today is proliferation of small arms and light weapons. Nigerians, especially defence and security experts have raised concern about arms proliferations and its negative impact on the country. Recently the Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nnenna Ukaeje raised alarm at the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the country, saying Nigeria has more weapons at the disposal of the people than food. Ukaeje gave this warning when the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) led by its Chairman, Ambassador Emmanuel Imohe, paid a courtesy visit to her at National Assembly Complex Abuja to explore ways of partnering with the House Committee to accelerate the pace of a draft Bill before the House which seeks to transform the Committee into a Commission. Plateau state has also been affected by the threat.
To check these danger , the STF in addition to intensifying efforts in arresting syndicate of 16 miscreants amongst Fulani and Berom in January 2014, who specialized in rustling cattle and killings of other Fulani herdsmen and also turned back to attacked and killed some innocent Berom, at the same time.
According to Captain Mustapha, besides fishing out perpetrators of various crimes ,STF commander is focused on illegal arms cleansing.
Mustapha said: “The Special Task Force (STF) has recovered 32 guns, 519 ammunitions and had arrested 50 persons in groups and individual suspects within the period of January to February, 17 2014.”
Making the disclosure to media men at the STF headquarters in Jos, Captain Mustapha, said the weapons recovered from the possessions of peddlers, ranges from AK 47 rifles, machine guns, pistols as well as many other assorted ammunitions.
“There is high level of arms in the hands of people, and we are doing the very best to recover them. We need cooperation; People should always provide us with information.”
He said those arrested are involved in armed robbery, kidnapping, illegal possession of arms and trafficking, illegal possession of military items and cattle rustling cases amongst others.
According to him 97 cattle were rustled, with 25 out of them recovered and handed over to their owners, within the period under review.
Security pundits are of the opinion that recovering such a deadly cache of weapons is indeed a giant stride, towards ensuring a peaceful community; however, much more is desired from both the Security agencies, as well as well-meaning citizens of the state.
Difficult terrain
Another challenge confronting the STF is access to some of the localities affected by the crisis. Blueprint investigation indicated STF has been faced with challenges of terrain, logistics and manpower.
The STF Media officer said terrain has always been one of their major challenges in pursuing suspects in the settlements where attacks have been recorded stressing that most of the attackers knows the villages better than their men, adding that the situation is one that when there is calmness in an area troops are moved to another spot where there is report of conflict.
“At times our men even use motorbikes to pursue the suspects,” he added.
One of the methods used by militaries in wining heart and minds of the people during Peace support operations (PSO) or internal security operations (ISO) is civil- military relations. The STF under the current commander, Major General David Enetie has given serious attention to civil military cooperation initiative. In the past five month, STF has rendered assistants to communities, such as medical attention, educational support and other basic needs. In particular, STF has rendered assistance to windows and orphans in the affected communities.
In addition to the above, STF has also organised sporting activities for youths which is aimed at reintegration. Investigation revealed that security situation is improving due to cordial relationship that exist with various communities. The STF Commander, commend the efforts of the communities for the support given to STF. “ Generally, we want to thank the people for the support and encouragement them to give timely information. He also thanked the state government , traditional rulers and all stakeholders for their support.
Beyond the STF
Defence and security experts said that despite efforts by the STF to contain the crisis and sustain peace on the Plateau, there was the need for all stakeholders to be involved in conflict resolution and peace building process.
Speaking with Blueprint on the Plateau crisis, a defence and security expert, Max Gbanite said that it was an embarrassment that Nigeria is still grappling with plateau state crisis for 8 years, adding that he was concerned that anytime there were local government elections in the state there was crisis. He said: “that we are still grappling with the crisis in Plateau state after 8 years is an embarrassment to both the federal government and Plateau state government. This crisis has created an environment of instability in Bauchi, Kaduna and Nasarawa states. I want both the federal government and plateau state government to study all the white papers on the crisis in the state and implement them appropriately. ”
Also speaking on a AIT Kaakai programme on Monday, 10, March, 2014 on a topic, Insurgency: the quest for all party strategy, the Spokesperson of All Progressive Party (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed said that there is nowhere in the world where military bring peace. “Military do not bring peace. There is need for internal and local peace makers to be involve in the process of peace building and conflict resolution. There is also the nee d to address issues of fairness, justice and inequality.”
Various stakeholders who spoke with Blueprint said that continuation of hostilities among communities that have hitherto lived together in peace is not in the interest of Plateau state. Victor Damlang said there was need for stakeholders to support peace process.
“The STF alone cannot end the trouble, until all the people concerned are ready to shun all form of vices and agreed to live together. All strata of Government at state and federal levels must be involve in the peace process.. Security is everybody business and everybody is expected to play vital role in ensuring peace . While it is expected that the Berom should desists from rustling cattle, in the other hand the Fulani should also refrained from doing anything that will continue to breach the path to peaceful coexistence.”
“What is required is for all hands to be on deck and support STF to succeed. The NGOs, Muslim and Christian groups should all come together to build the peace process. Again, STF cannot be everywhere. It requires support from all stakeholders through intelligence gathering. Again, culture of vengeance and reprisal attack will not help. All the affected communities should develop spirit of forgiveness that is the peace process should start with the individual and agree to live together. ”
The Local Government elections
The recent local government elections which was rancor free in plateau state was seen as an indication that if all the stakeholders resolved that enough is enough, Plateau would be whole again. Speaking with Blueprint, the STF Commander, Major General David Enetie thanked Plateaus state government and all the stakeholders for the support given to STF during the election. “ we thank the state government and all stakeholders for ensuring that STF provided security throughout the election. As against people expectation, the last local government elections were crisis – free. And where there isolated cases, STF responded swiftly.
The media
The media also have a greater role to play in calming the situation in the Plateau through objective reportage of the crises. The media has been urged by stakeholders to always cross check facts before going to press. Also various communities have been advised to management information well. “ The media should be objective in its reportage. It should report events as it happen. And media should be able to separate criminality from communal crisis. For instance, sometimes cattle rustling are reported as communal crisis. Also communities don’t manage information well. This is age of information technology. If you send even text message from your phone or through facebook, whether it is true or false information, it travels far, and could have far reaching effect.”
Commendation for STF
Despite misgivings by some people, various groups in Plateau state have been commending the STF on the role it is playing in maintaining peace and order, peace building and conflict resolution.
His Royal Highness, Emir of Wase, Dr Sambo Haruna commended the STF, saying they have been doing their best and they need to do more.
In the same vein, a resident of Yelwa in Shendam Local Government Area, Abdullahi Luti told Blueprint that the community is pleased with the intervention of STF in Plateau state.
“We are pleased that the STF and our people have agreed to work together, and we are seeing the result because it has been peaceful for some months now. And we have not heard of cattle rustling which has been the major cause of the crises here.”
President of the Aten Development Association (ADA), Mr Chom Bagu commended the STF for its prompt response to distress call by it community. He said: we appreciate the prompt response and efforts of his officers and men of STF for preventing the escalation of the crises in our community.”
