The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of Nigerian Army and Commander Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation ENDURING PEACE (COPEP), Major General Folusho Oyinlola, has met with stakeholders from Mikang, Langtang North, Langtang South, Qua’an-Pan and Shendam Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the military’s unwavering commitment to the safety and peaceful coexistence of all citizens within OPEP Joint Operational Area (JOA).
General Oyinlola, who addressed the “crucial” stakeholders’ engagement in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State, emphasized that there are established, lawful procedures already in place to resolve disputes between farmers and herders.
The Commander Operation ENDURING PEACE cautioned residents against taking the law into their own hands and warned that the military will not tolerate any loss of lives or destruction of farmlands as a result of clashes.
He urged them to channel grievances through existing dispute resolution mechanisms.
The engagement, themed “Deepening Stakeholders Collaboration Towards Consolidating On The Security Gains For The Farming Season,” brought together Community Leaders, Traditional Rulers, Women and Youth representatives from Shendam, Mikang, Langtang North, Langtang South, and Qua’an-Pan local government areas to foster peaceful coexistence ahead of the rainy season.
Representing the GOC at the event, the Chief of Staff of Operation ENDURING PEACE, Brigadier General Senlong Sule, stated that the command is actively monitoring security dynamics and will not ignore early warning signs of unrest.
He noted that proactive, collective action from both the military and local communities is vital to prevent the region from sliding into avoidable conflict.
”During this farming season, no life should be lost because of a rustled cattle, nor should any farmland be destroyed by hoodlums,” the GOC warned. “If anyone is caught in this act, we will not hesitate to deal with the person decisively. We can not afford to continue to tolerate violence, resulting in the loss of lives as a result of farmer-herder conflict.”
In his remarks, the Commander of Sector 9, Operation ENDURING PEACE, Lieutenant Colonel Rasheed Braimoh reiterated that a secure environment is essential for national agricultural productivity and overall development, stressing the importance of sustaining peace to enable the farmers and herders carry out their legitimate activities without fear.
Speaking also at the event while welcoming the military’s intervention, the Executive Chairman of Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area, Hon Christopher Wallat lauded the GOC’s foresight, noting that while the zone has enjoyed relative peace, the security engagement is incredibly timely to checkmate mischief-makers planning to foment trouble as cultivation begins.
Additionally, Traditional rulers and Community Leaders, Women and Youth Leaders from the 5 local government areas appreciated the military high command for organizing the dialogue, adding that it provided the opportunity to openly interact and aired their concerns as well as pledged their cooperation to maintain peaceful coexistence in their respective domains.
As part of its non-kinetic approach to civil-military cooperation and fostering communal bond, Operation ENDURING PEACE distributed fertilizers to local farmers across the 5 local government areas to support their farming activities for the season.
