On Saturday, March 21, 2015, Special Task Force, STF, Operation SAVE HAVEN, and other security agencies went round some major streets in Plateau state in an exercise Show of Force (SF) intended to demonstrate the presence and preparedness of the STF towards a violence–free general elections on Saturday and April 11. MUHAMMAD TANKO SHITTU reports
Periodic elections are ingredient vital to entrenchment of democratic values in any democracy. Key to this is an enabling environment that allows conduct of free, fair and credible elections. Hence, ensuring peace before, during and after any election is one of the responsibilities of security agencies.
In Plateau and part of Bauchi state, one of the security agencies saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring peace within this Area of Responsibilities, AOR, is the Special Task Force, STF, Operation Save Haven. In line with military tradition of boosting the morale of troops, and in fulfilling this responsibility, STF under the leadership of Major General David Enetie organised an exercise intended to mobilizing the officers and men of STF and showing citizens within AOR that the security agencies remained committed to safe guiding lives and property before, during and after the general elections.
Thus, plateau state witnessed a beehive of activities on Saturday, March 21, 2015 as long convoy of military and other security agencies vehicles baring siren drove through major streets of Jos North, Jos South, Barikin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas of the state. From morning to afternoon residents of the areas visited by the STF witnessed show of strength.
The security operatives went round the metros and other localities of the LGAs to demonstrate their continues presence with the aim of indicating that possible trouble makers should get to know that their planned vices will face stiff resistance.
Speaking at during the exercise, the Commander of the STF, Major-General Daivd Enetie, said the show of force (SF), exercise was meant to prepared officers and men of the security operatives towards safeguarding the Nigerian populace before, during and after the elections.
He told officers and men under his command and 3rd Armored Div, the the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, Nigerian Prison Service,NPS, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps,NCSDC, the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, and Nigerian Immigration Service , NIS that it was the duty of security agencies to provide security to Nigerians.
He said: “We have no any other country than Nigeria, and therefore, you have to work very hard and put in your best, within the confine of the law to protect not only its territory but it entire citizens. Service commanders in Plateau State, men and officers, I appreciate you all, and what you have just done today is part of preparation towards safeguarding the People during elections.”
The Commander further urged men and officers to ensure that the elections are done in most peaceful and conducive atmospheres.
Enetie, also warned parents to advice their Children to refrain from indulging in any action capable of causing violence before, during and after the general elections.
“We will not tolerate any procession, we will not tolerate any act of violence,” Enetie said.
Speaking further, General Enetie said even though the military is not participating in the elections, it has to be in the field to discharge its constitutional responsibility of giving aids to civil authority.
“Security is necessary for us to conduct peaceful elections. We are not taking part to manned or direct the People to vote a particular candidate, but we are manning all the flash points, we are manning all asses, so that People can create conducive environment for elections to hold. We are not interfering in the elections but we are supporting, so that we support democracy, so that democracy will thrive in this country.”
He explained that their presence on the elections day is essentially to make people have the freedom of peaceful movement of going to vote.
We want to protect the right of every citizens with our AOR to exercise his por her civil responsibilities of voting in a peaceful atmsophere.We are here to assist the civil authority to institutionalize democracy in this country, and for those of you who don’t know, I believe that you most have read American history, every country have gone through this kind of process, so we have to help the civil authority to institutionalize democracy I this country,” he emphasized.
According to Enetie, the STF, has a good synergy with all the other security agencies in the state, and that they enjoyed cordial relationship with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“We will work also to ensure the safety of INEC staff, their ad-hoc staff, and the Youth Corpers who will be used for these elections. So those that are saying the military should not, perhaps they should have a rethink, because we need a secured conducive environment for the elections to hold.”
Enetie, stressed that the exercise will instill confidence on Nigerians to freely, come out and cast their votes so that the conduct of the elections will be successful, at the end of it.
Presents at the event were the STF, Chief of staff, Brigadier-General Muhammad Magaji, a representative of the Defence Headquarters, Department of Operations Brigadier General Yakubu Auta, the representative of the 3rd Armoured Div, Brigadier General Benson Akinroluyede. Other were the Deputy Commander of the STF, Assistant Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Ado, the Comptroller of Customs, Plateau State command, Mr. Muhammad Suleiman, the Commander of the 303 Nigeria Air Force Base Jos, Group captain Akinyele Muyewa. Also in attendance were the Plateau State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Vincent Bature, and Deputy Coordinator of the state own security outfit Operation Rainbow.
A Vox Pop, conducted by our correspondent, revealed that the exercise had positive impact on the residents. Those interviewed expressed appreciations over the exercise, some of them explained the exercise has really indicated to the that the security are ready to help prevent any un healthy eventuality that might likely unfolds results out of the elections, most especially the post-elections.
A youth leader, John Mark said that at least the show of force have indeed reminded them that the security agencies were ready to act at any giving time.
The show of force which has dozens of military, police, civil defence as well as paramilitary vehicles and armoured tankers, conveyed troops to demonstrate that they are really on ground was an exercise that has been on for some times. General Enetie disclosed that the exercises had taken place in all the STF, sectors within the States under STF AOR and stressed further that similar exercise will take place on the 26th of March, two days to the Presidential Elections.