Thousands of Fulani inhabitants of the five Plateau villages slated for military operations were moved out and camped at four locations in Riyom and Barkin Ladi yesterday, following an agreement between community leaders and security authorities.
They accepted to relocate
temporarily at the expiration of a 48-hour evacuation deadline on the condition
that they would be allowed to return after two days and that their property
would be protected, Daily Trust learnt yesterday.
On Saturday, the Special Task Force ordered villagers in
Mahanga, Kakuruk, Kuzen, Maseh and Shong 2 to leave to give way for an
operation to root out “terrorists” following deadly violence in Riyom and
Barkin Ladi local government areas.
Leaders of the affected communities vowed on Sunday not
to move an inch while the Defence Headquarters insisted the operation would go
on, stoking fears of a looming bloodshed.
But tensions eased yesterday as the two sides agreed for
a peaceful transfer of the people on certain conditions.
“At about 3pm this afternoon (yesterday) the STF went
ahead to implement its ultimatum of physically asking the Fulani people to
vacate those areas,” executive director of the Pastoral Resolve, Saleh Momale,
told Daily Trust by telephone.
“The only difference now with the earlier statement is
that the people were asked to move to some specified locations within Riyom and
Barkin Ladi local government areas.
“The assurances provided by the STF were that there will
be no killing, arrest and intimidation of Fulani people. That their houses and
properties left behind will be adequately guarded by security personnel.
“That full security will be provided to the Fulani at the
four locations where they were asked to move. That relief material in form of
food items, warm clothing and shelter will be provided early tomorrow (today).
“That all the activities of the military operation in the
areas will be completed in a maximum period of two days and that the people
will return to their houses afterward,” he added.
Another spokesman for the Fulani, Malam Saleh Bayeri,
told the BBC Hausa the agreement was reached and the people were relocated to
some camps on the condition that the safety of their lives and property would
be guaranteed and they would be allowed back to their homes after two days.
STF spokesman Salihu Mustapha told the BBC the deadline
would expire by midnight yesterday and the operations would begin “any moment”
after that. He said the property of the displaced villagers would be protected
and they would be allowed back to their homes though he did not give a specific
date for that.
Momale also told Daily Trust: “The Pastoral Resolve wants
to draw the attention of the STF to some critical issues including the need to
guarantee the health and safety of the women and children and the aged people
who will be sleeping in open fields this night (yesterday) amidst the cold
condition and the potentials of heavy rainfall.
“The overcrowding of hundreds of thousands of cattle in
these restricted evacuation camps and the possible occurrence of crop damages
within the area as well as possible effect of inadequate water, food, sanitary
and health facilities.
“It is imperative on the STF to take full responsibility
for all these. If there are any violation of the fundamental human rights of
the people and rights of the animals it will be challenged using all the
constitutional means in Nigeria. And if that fails to resolve the issue due to
political interferences, the issues will be challenged within the international
laws.”
But in Abuja, the Military authorities yesterday said the
operation “to eradicate terrorists” taking shelter in those villages would last
for two weeks.
Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin
said people would be allowed to return to their homes afterwards.
When asked if there would be compensation for property
that might be damaged in the exercise, Petinrin, represented at a news conference
by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Dick Iruenabere, said, “We
are not going to use heavy weapons in the operation, so the question of
destruction of property does not arise.”
He said the military has recently conducted “air
reconnaissance” and established the presence of some terrorists in the said
villages.
“The terrorists are using the civilian population as
human shield. The people were asked to move out of those places to avoid more
damages. The kind of threat from the terrorists is unusual and must be
treated,” he said.
Petinrin said all soldiers drafted for the operation will
be guided by a set of laws. “We have rules of engagement and we shall use
minimal force,” he added.
He said the military is not accusing the Fulani of being
behind the recent attacks on some villages. “We never believed the Fulanis were
responsible. We never accused anyone,” he said.
Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi
Odinkalu, who was at the briefing, said the Defence Headquarters invited him
for a meeting concerning the military operations.
“All human rights standards were considered before the
commencement of the military operations in Plateau State,” Odinkalu said. He
said the position of the commission on military exercises is “positive.”
Plateau sets up camps for evacuated villagers
Meanwhile, the Plateau State Government yesterday said it
has set up camps to accommodate and provide immediate relief to residents being
displaced by the military order to vacate some communities.
Information Commissioner Abraham Yiljap in a statement in
Jos said Governor Jonah Jang had set up a special committee that was already
catering for persons displaced by the order.
“Already, the committee is working with authorities of
the two local governments and has designated areas to receive and provide
relief to the displaced persons. In Riyom, camps identified are the Ra-Hos
Primary School Community Hall and the old local government secretariat.
“In Barkin Ladi, camps identified are Kura Falls and
COCIN Gangare in Barkin-Ladi town,” he said.
The commissioner said government had begun relief
interventions in the affected areas, and advised persons yet to be attended to,
to reach out to the local government authorities of their respective areas.