The joint operation according to those who spoke to Daily Trust yesterday may have been aimed at appeasing the Berom community which accused the Fulanis of raiding their villages and killing their people.

But spokesman for the STF, Captain Salisu Mustapha, denounced the claim saying he had been to the villages and nothing of such was happening. He however confirmed the presence of the military around the area who have been trying to fish out the perpetrators of the Maseh attack.

The secretary General of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBA) in Plateau state, Mohammed Nuru Abdullahi told Daily Trust that the security men stormed Bachit district of Riyom LGA as early as 8am yesterday, shooting as villagers ran for safety.

Source however told Daily Trust that the Fulani villages had been deserted after last weekend’s attacks on many Berom villages. It also said troops had occupied some Fulani villages including Mahanga, but stressed that the village had been deserted.

“I think they knew that their villages would be raided so they moved to safety after last weekend’s crisis,” the source said, adding that helicopters had been hovering around the crisis ridden areas.

MACBA General Secretary Abdul-lahi accused the security personnel of lowering two suspicious drums from their helicopters stressing that there may be explosives in them.

The STF spokesman dismissed Abdullahi’s claim but confirmed that military helicopters have been operating around the area.

“Our helicopters operate around the area. They may have been lowering food for the officers stationed there. I am urging people to please stop spreading these rumours,” Captain Mustafa said.

Speaking to Daily Trust on phone on the attacks, Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Fulani Association in Barkin Ladi, Mohammed Adam, said soldiers of the STF have launched a massive attack on Fulani settlements burning their houses and killing people randomly.

He said, “This morning soldiers came and started burning Fulani settlements. As I speak to you now they are busy burning all Fulani settlements in Shong II, Wuro Bello, Gure Daneegu, Dyola, Rakweng, Sharu, Kuzeng, Luggel, Rachi , Matse and Afan. They are backed up with helicopters and tanks.”

Adam said about 30 persons and over 60 cows have been killed.

Also yesterday, the National Chairman of a Fulani organization, Kautal Hore, Abdullahi Bello Bodejo told BBC Hausa that the recent claim of responsibility of weekend attacks on villages in Riyom and Barkin Ladi by the Boko Haram sect has exonerated the Fulani.

However, the National Leader of the Berom Youth and Cultural Organization, Frances Dalyop said the claim by Boko Haram was just a cover-up by the Fulani.


http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/news/171764-soldiers-raid-fulani-settlements-in-plateau--its-not-true-says-jtf.

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