Major General AE Abubakar, the Commander of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division Nigerian Army, issued a stern warning to Plateau State residents against harboring criminals responsible for creating turmoil in the state. General Abubakar conveyed this message during his keynote address on the 17th of October, 2023, while inaugurating additional committee members tasked with implementing the recommendations of the 36-man joint committee report aimed at achieving lasting peace in selected local government areas of Plateau State. The inauguration ceremony took place at the Headquarters of the 3 Division Nigerian Army’s Maxwell Khobe Cantonment in Rukuba, Jos.
The Commander of OPSH and GOC highlighted the achievements of the 26-Man peace implementation committee, which was inaugurated in February 2022. He emphasized that this committee successfully restored peace in the designated local government areas through dialogue and community engagement, predominantly employing non-kinetic methods to address disputes, only resorting to force when dealing with criminal activities.
General Abubakar called upon the newly appointed committee members to carry out their duties impartially and without any form of bias. Stressing that peace could only be achieved through collective efforts, he explained that the additional members were meticulously selected to represent various interest groups and stakeholders. He underlined the importance of these peace efforts in safeguarding the present and securing the future generations from the harsh realities of recurring conflicts.
Deputy Commissioner of Police T Iyua, the Deputy Commander of Operation SAFE HAVEN, welcomed the expanded committee and expressed confidence that it would replicate the success of the existing implementation committee, offering effective solutions to the root causes of crises in local government areas such as Barikin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Jos North and South, Mangu, and Riyom.
Architect Samuel Jatau, the Special Guest of Honor and Secretary to the Plateau State Government, commended General Abubakar for his unwavering commitment to peace, which he viewed as pivotal in restoring Plateau State to its rightful place among Nigerian states. He assured that the Plateau State Government would spare no effort in ensuring the safety of its citizens and their property.
Representing the traditional rulers and local government chairmen at the event, His Royal Highness Da John Hirse and Honorable Markus Artu, the Chairman of the Mangu LGA Transition Implementation Committee, pledged their full support to the initiative and vowed to collaborate with relevant authorities to protect their communities and deliver on the committee’s mandate.
Justice Daniel Longji (Rtd), Chairman of the 55-Man Peace Implementation Committee, expressed the committee’s dedication to its mission and believed that the expanded scope of the committee would lead to even more successes in the state.
Dignitaries in attendance at the event included Architect Samuel Jatau, the Secretary to Plateau State Government, Brigadier General GG Shippi (Rtd), the Special Adviser on Security to the Plateau State Governor, Justice Daniel Longji (Rtd), the Chairman of the 55-man peace implementation committee, as well as eminent traditional rulers from Mangu, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, and Bokkos, and the Transition Implementation Committee Chairmen of Mangu, Bokkos, Riyom, and Barkin Ladi LGAs, among others.
The event was marked by the taking of oaths and the presentation of appointment letters to the new committee members, culminating in group photographs to commemorate this important milestone in Plateau State’s journey towards lasting peace.
