From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The “Global Society for Middle-Belt Heritage” has called for the replacement of personnel of the Special Task Force Code name Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) saddled with the responsibility of maintaining peace in Plateau State, part of Bauchi and Southern Kaduna State with Mobile Police Squadrons.
The organization accused men of the Special Task Force of running businesses than securing the lives and properties of citizens of Plateau State aside from the social destruction carried out on young girls and women in Plateau State over the years.
The President of the Global Society for Middle-Belt Heritage, Comrade Jerry Tongle Datim alongside his Secretary Mr Ringsum Joshua John at a World Press Conference on Thursday held at TEKAN Headquarters in Jos the Plateau State Capital insisted that the GOC/Commander of the Special Force should be withdrawn with immediate effect.
“We demand the immediate withdrawal of the military from all checkpoints and replace them with Mobile Police (MOPOL) and this means the immediate removal of the GOC/STF Commander.”
John further explained thus, “You will bear me witness that the operation of STF has taken too long, we don’t want to ask the meaning of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) while there is no haven and no safety.
“As they prolong their stay, we discovered that they prefer to build hospitals, they prefer to build schools for the locals, and they prefer to engage our youths in football competition rather than facing the business of security in Plateau State.
“So, you will also agree with me that if you look at them they’re living flashy, they’re not even looking dirty as if they’re on war front on the Plateau! So, I think they have come for business to their stomach, not the business to save what is happening.”
The secretary recalled, “Today, from 2010 to date, STF has been here on the Plateau, since the time of Sale Maina when he double as the GOC and STF Commander we have not gotten any peace. So, just to say a little because there are more social damages that STF have been causing to our young girls and women but when they come to the issue of protection they take sides in the name of protecting the minority.
“So we became the majority to be hunted and the minorities become our attackers and are protected! We will not take that and that is why we are saying they should go immediately, and we want this to go even to the Defense Headquarters to know that we have not seen any operations like a safer haven here on the Plateau.”
They disclosed that there are 30,000 IDPs scattered in Mangu, Panyam, Mangu Halle, Yilpo(Sabon Gari) Fan in Barkin-Ladi, Maikatako in Bokkos, Mariah in Bokkos, Bukuru in Jos-South and so many on Jos-North LGA of the state that is in dire need o. immediate attention by SEMA and NEMA in the country.