The Special Military Task Force, “Operation Save Haven’’ on Wednesday paraded three suspects arrested in connection with the killing of over 200 persons in Plateau State over the weekend.
The three men were said to have been captured at Gashish District in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau.
The suspects were paraded in Jos alongside 14 others, for the killings during which people said to be herdsmen, massacred innocent locals and farmers on June 24.
It would be recalled that 11 villages in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area and its environs were affected in the bloodbath during which property worth several millions of naira were destroyed.
Speaking while parading the suspects, the Public Relations Officer for the STF, Major Umar Adams, revealed that the suspects were arrested, clutching sophisticated riffles.
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Adams said that two of the suspects were Fulani herdsmen and one Berom – one of the minority ethnic groups in Plateau — currently at odds with Fulani herdsmen over grazing rights.
There are fears that the genocidal activities of the herdsmen may affect the future of agriculture in North Central Nigeria because of the penchant of the marauders to kill farmers.
Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa States which pride themselves are food baskets of the nation are presently the hotbeds of the killings.
Major Adams said, “We all know that some days back, some villages in Barkin Ladi were attacked and these three suspects were arrested in connection with that.
“As our men were repelling the attacks in those areas we arrested these suspects with four riffles, three locally made guns and one AK47.
“The other 14 people were arrested in connection with civil unrest recently experienced in the state.
Adams said that the suspects were still being investigated and that more arrests would be made in the course of time.
END