Plateau: Gunmen Kill 260 Persons In Six Months, Rustle 2,501 Cows – Special Task Force

Apr. 24, 2014

SaharaReporters, New York

The Special Task Force (STF) on the crisis in Plateau State says that 260 persons have been killed in 160 communal clashes in the State in the past six months, with 2,501 cows snatched.

The Commander of the STF, David Enetie, made the disclosure at the 6th Plateau Architecture dialogue in Jos.  Enetie was represented by Ali Bello, an STF officer.

The event was organized through the European Union (EU) sponsored Search For Common Ground, in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict in Plateau State.

The STF commander further disclosed that over 88 arms were recovered, along with 2,734 ammunitions.

“The attacks were masterminded by activities of cow rustlers which was the major security challenges confronting the task force in the state,” he said, describing several locations in the state where the practice is going on.

“Apart from the casualties, the Task force has recorded some successes in our efforts to address the problems of cow rustling with the arrest of 15 armed dealers who provided arms that made cattle rustling easier in the state,” he continued, adding that the success in the war against cattle rustlers is attributable to ‘Operation Restore Peace’ which the STF launched to confront the practice.

At the event, Timothy Parlong, the Special Adviser to Governor Jonah Jang on Peace Building and Conflict Management, disclosed that the Fulani will be returning to the negotiating table.   They had withdrawn their participation last month.

The Country Director of Search For Common Ground, Chom Bagu, stressed that the work towards peace is not that of the government and security agencies alone, and called on all stakeholders to participate in order end the threats to peace in Plateau State.