They Rejected Presence Of Troops, Hence We Withdrew — STF Spokesman

[TGD]

 Again, bloodshed engulfs parts of Plateau State with casualty figures rising alarmingly. But STF spokesman, Captain Charles Ekeocha, who spoke to ISA ABDULSALAMI says troops were absent in the affected areas because "the locals there said they don't want them." Excerpts:

Troops were withdrawn from some locations. Why?

BARKIN Ladi, Heipang and Foron... you are talking about. We don't have soldiers there, and you know why? The locals there said they don't want our troops and we withdrew.

They said they don't want you there, so what do you do? Even at times when we managed on our own push and see whether we could save some lives, at the end the whole thing was roped against us, saying that the soldiers were behind the killings.

It is always very sad when you know you worked very hard. And I am not saying anybody should appreciate us because the duty of any military man is not felt when he is there. But it is only felt when he is no longer there.

We have given the people a platform for peace.

The area you are talking about; we are not there. A situation where a soldiers is beaten up, an officer is beaten up... We don't want a situation to go awry because when you are provoked, you will react.

So, in order not to allow issues to degenerate to that level, we asked our troops to leave. Our properties were burnt, our tents burnt, clothes burnt because the people there said they don't want you.

It is only when you are there that people can accuse you again. So, we are not there. Let them manage it and leave us alone. It is only when they want us to come back that we will go back.  You can bear me witness that we are doing our best.

The question should be, why is it always in Barkin Ladi and Riyom? Why is it there that this is always coming from? The are routes that lead to Kaduna,

Bauchi, Nasarawa States. If these routes are tactically blocked by soldiers,

I don't think anybody can come and attack without us knowing. But when people say they don't want you there, what do you do? When we are not accepted in a place, there is nothing we can do. Anything that happens in those areas where we have withdrawn our troops, don't ask us for any confirmation until, they on their own, ask us to go back.

With the coming of the new STF Commander, Brig-Gen. Pat Akem, have troops been moved around, especially as locals are saying they have overstayed their welcome in some places?

Moving soldiers around is something we do regularly, whether there is a new commander or not. We consider the realities with the locals whatsoever,

whether there is a new commander or not. Sector commanders, within one week or two of their posting, will move the soldiers around. It is not as if it is being done with the coming of the new commander. Whether we have done that is our tactical operation, which you don't expect me to tell you. Just be rest assured that they are moved around from time to time.

That question is relevant because of complaints from the people that some soldiers have overstayed in particular locations.

The locals will always complain. Even the rotation we did, some of them complained that they loved some soldiers to still remain because they worked so hard and that they want them to remain.

So, you don't know the side of the bargain to follow. But the thing is, our modus operandi is ours and we keep on doing it. The rotation of soldiers is something that right from the start of the operation has been there. In any army or military operation, it is always there. They can't tell us how to use our soldiers. We know the best way to handle our soldiers. And that is what we are doing.

Has the new commander put any new strategic measure on ground to ensure adequate security of lives and property?

Well, whether the new commander has put a new measure on ground will amount to saying that the former one, Brig-Gen. Hassan Umaru, has not done well. The new commander is a new man who has his style. He has spoken with us and the direction of his operations. So, with time, you people will start noticing one or two changes. So, his own style as a new man will definitely be different from my former boss.

 

What is you advice to the people?

The thing I always keep saying is that dialogue and forgiveness should always be the watchword of the people. They should have that will for forgiveness and with this, peace will reign. After all, the people have been living together with one another for more than 100 years. Why is it now that they come from different tribes or places? Let them dialogue and there will be peace.



The Guardian