Following incessant attacks in parts of Plateau state, the Nigerian Army has reaffirmed its determination to sustaining both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to protect life, property and livelihoods in the state, as communities prepare for the farming season.
Major General Folunsho Oyinlola, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of “Operation Enduring Peace”, made this known on Thursday during a strategic stakeholders’ engagement from Barkin Ladi local government area meant to ensure peaceful coexistence in the state.
The Operation Enduring Peace, according to him, would intensify the aggressive clearance of criminal elements from their hideouts, ensure heightened patrols in identified flashpoints, and strengthen collaboration with other security agencies across the state with a view to clearing all criminal elements out of the state.
Oyinlola explained that these kinetic operations, combined with non-kinetic initiatives, are designed to deliver lasting peace and called on stakeholders to continue supporting the military in its efforts to ensure lasting peace is restored in Plateau.
The meeting comes amid relative calm recently recorded in Barkin Ladi, which Maj. Gen. Oyinlola attributed to sustained dialogue, deliberate conflict mitigation efforts, and the collective resolve of residents to promote peaceful coexistence.
The Commander, however, expressed concerns over emerging threats, including attacks on miners at mining sites in parts of the state and an unusually large influx of cattle into farming communities, saying that they are clear early warning signs that demand urgent, collective action.
Oyinlola warned. “We cannot allow Barkin Ladi to relapse into avoidable conflict, especially now that the farming season is commencing, a period vital to the livelihoods of countless families.”
He said that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has directed the distribution of fertiliser to stakeholders from both farming and herding communities as part of non kinetic measures aimed at encouraging and sustaining agricultural production as means to further support peaceful agricultural activities and reduce tensions
He also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu for the prompt deployment of an elite Special Forces unit to Plateau State to reinforce ongoing security operations, urging traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community heads to strengthen conflict resolution mechanisms, sensitise youths against provocative actions such as farm encroachment, cattle poisoning, and attacks on livestock, and work together to develop and enforce a community-driven code of conduct for peaceful coexistence.
He further appealed to residents to promptly report suspicious movements or activities to security personnel, stressing that troops under Operation Enduring Peace are deployed to enforce peace, uphold justice, and protect all law-abiding citizens, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or affiliation.
“Our loyalty is to the Constitution and the collective safety of Nigerians,” he said. “Security is a shared responsibility. We depend on timely and credible intelligence from communities to act decisively against criminal elements” he added.