Military, Stakeholders Move to Avert Farming Season Violence in Plateau
The Nigerian Army, under Operation ENDURING PEACE, has intensified efforts to forestall a resurgence of violence in Plateau State, engaging key stakeholders across Jos North, Jos East and Bassa Local Government Areas ahead of the farming season.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division and Commander of Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, made the call for sustained peace during a stakeholders’ meeting in Jos, where security, traditional, and community leaders converged to chart a coordinated approach to stability.
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer, Operation ENDURING PEACE, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, the engagement was aimed at developing practical modalities to ensure a peaceful farming season, particularly in areas historically prone to communal clashes.
Speaking through the Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Senlong Sule, the GOC commended residents for the relative calm recorded in recent months, attributing the improvement to dialogue and community cooperation. He, however, cautioned that the gains remain fragile and must be protected against emerging threats.
Oyinlola identified key concerns including kidnapping, attacks on mining sites, illegal arms production, and the influx of cattle into farming communities—factors that have previously triggered reprisals and escalated tensions.
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To mitigate these risks, he disclosed that both kinetic and non-kinetic measures were being deployed, including the approval by the Chief of Defence Staff for the distribution of fertilisers to farmers across communities to boost agricultural productivity and reduce friction.
He further revealed that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the deployment of a Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion, a special forces unit, to strengthen rapid response and containment of emerging threats in the state.
The GOC urged traditional, religious, and community leaders to strengthen local conflict resolution mechanisms and sensitise youths against provocative actions such as destruction of farmlands or cattle poisoning, while also advocating for a community-driven code of conduct.
He also cautioned media practitioners against sensational reporting, stressing that unverified information could inflame tensions rather than support peacebuilding efforts.
Reaffirming the military’s neutrality, Oyinlola said security agencies remain committed to protecting all law-abiding citizens irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliations, adding that sustained peace depends largely on the cooperation of local communities.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Jos North Local Government Area, Barrister John Kyohroh Christopher, commended the military for restoring calm following previous crises and pledged continued collaboration to consolidate peace.
Community leaders, including traditional rulers and religious representatives, also expressed appreciation for the military’s efforts and pledged their support to ensure a hitch-free farming season across the affected areas.
The military said it would continue clearance operations against criminal elements while strengthening community engagement as part of a broader strategy to ensure lasting peace in Plateau State.
By PRNigeria
