Military Plants Trees, Donates Relief Items to Orphans in Plateau
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have taken their non-knetic campaign a step further by combining climate action with humanitarian outreach in Plateau State.
The Joint Task Force on On Saturday, launched a tree planting campaign, donated relief materials to an orphanage, and distributed wheelchairs to physically challenged students during a special event at Government College Jos.
The initiative, spearheaded by Sector 1 of JTF OPEP, was designed to win hearts and minds while addressing pressing environmental and social challenges. It drew dignitaries including the Plateau State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Kachollom Pyam, security chiefs, traditional rulers, and religious leaders.
In his address, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander JTF OPEP, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, said the exercise reflected the Operation’s renewed commitment to peacebuilding through non-kinetic means. He stressed that alongside tactical deployments and intelligence-led security operations, the Command was determined to improve community well-being.
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“The tree planting exercise is a deliberate step to support host communities in combating deforestation and promoting healthier living conditions,” General Oyinlola stated. “It is also a clear message that restoring peace and stability goes hand in hand with addressing developmental and environmental needs.”
He added that the rebranded Operation Enduring Peace will continue to deny criminal elements freedom of action while forging stronger ties with host communities. “We call on the people to cooperate with security agencies and ensure that enemies of the state are held accountable,” he said.
Earlier, the Commander of Sector 1 JTF OPEP, Navy Captain M. A. Fana, said environmental degradation and deforestation had eroded Plateau’s natural beauty, inspiring the tree planting drive. He thanked the GOC for his support and commended stakeholders for backing the project.
In her remarks, Commissioner Pyam lauded the initiative, promising that students would nurture the trees and revive the tradition of tree planting in schools. She described the wheelchairs and relief materials as “a direct investment in the future of Plateau children.”
The event featured symbolic tree planting by military commanders, state officials, and students, as well as the presentation of wheelchairs to physically challenged students and donations to an orphanage home.
Major Samson Nantip Zhakom, Media Information Officer of JTF OPEP, said the activities were part of the Operation’s people-centric approach to security, combining kinetic force with non-kinetic gestures that build trust, resilience, and partnership with local communities.
By PRNigeria
