By Marie-Therese Nanlong

To forestall a repeat of violence in communities in Plateau State, especially as the festive season approaches, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede has approved the deployment of additional troops and critical combat enablers to Plateau State.

The General Officer Commanding, GOC, 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Rukuba/Commander, Operation Safe Haven, OpSH Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, disclosed this on Tuesday during a seminar towards a successful harvest season and harmonious yuletide celebration in Plateau State.

The GOC/Commander also added that other security agencies have equally deployed additional agents to the State, and warned the security will deal decisively in line with extant laws, with anyone planning to threaten the security of life and property during the festive period.

Recall that large-scale violence last Christmas Eve left many dead and communities displaced and every caution is taken by all critical stakeholders to avoid a repeat of the mayhem.

Speaking at the seminar, which had members of the farming and herding communities, religious and traditional leaders, and politicians from the Bassa, Bokkos, Riyom, Jos North, Barkin Ladi, Wase, and Mangu local government areas of the State, Major-General Abubakar reiterated the need for a peaceful harvest of crops and festive season.

He said, “… The success of our earlier seminars is a testament to the power of collaboration among security agencies, stakeholders, and community leaders. We must consolidate the gains by ensuring that the ongoing harvest is devoid of any incident that threatens the safety of lives and property. The forthcoming festivity should not be seen as an opportunity to avenge real or perceived grievances…

“While we continue to collaborate with communities to provide timely and effective responses to security challenges, the cooperation of you stakeholders is very vital towards sustaining peace at this critical period of the forthcoming yuletide season. This will, therefore, require the strengthening of community policing, where all will work hand in hand with the security architecture to preempt criminal activities.

“I also encourage all of you to utilize our toll-free line for prompt passage of information to enable timely response by security agencies. The line, once again, is 08000020203. Furthermore, we must continue to adopt the bottom-top crisis resolution approach to fashion ways and means to ensure that issues raised in this seminar trickle down to others who are not opportune to be present here today.”

He added, “I also wish to seize this opportunity to send a strong warning to those criminals planning to cause mayhem during the festive season, the Chief of Army Staff has graciously approved the deployment of additional troops and critical combat enablers to Plateau State, especially during this yuletide season.

“The Nigeria Police, as well as the Department of State Services, have equally deployed additional teams from their headquarters into the Plateau for this period. Therefore, Operation Safe Haven, and indeed, all security agencies will not hesitate to deal decisively in line with extant laws, with anyone planning to threaten the security of lives and property during the festive period, any person or group of persons who attempt to threaten or try anything inimical to security will be hunted down decisively following our mandates.

“We have also partnered with the state government to utilize technology in enhancing the security of our dear citizens. In this regard, the State has invested heavily. So, be rest assured that you are watched, for the criminals you can manage to commit a crime, but we are watching, and eventually we’ll catch all perpetrators.”

However, the State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, represented by his Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Titus Alams, asked for peaceful coexistence among citizens to ensure development prevails.

Remarks from diverse stakeholders called for forgiveness, the discarding of mutual distrust, and an end to the narrative of reprisals.