By Abdul Abdul, Jos
General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division and Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, on Wednesday warned “crisis merchants” planning to obstruct farming activities this year to have a re-think as OPSH will deal decisively with such criminals according to its mandate and extant laws.
Major General Abubakar, who decried the spate of destruction of farms including attacks on and cattle rustling in the past two months, warned that it further aggravating tension in the affected communities.
The GOC spoke at the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, headquarters of 3 Division of the Nigerian Army in Jos during a seminar organized for critical stakeholders in Plateau, Kaduna and Bauchi States towards a successful farming season in the Joint Operation Area (JOA).
According to a statement by Media Information Officer (MIO) of OPSH, Major Samson Zhakom, the seminar themed “Peaceful Co-existence: Panacea for a Successful Farming Season,” is part of OPSH’s non-kinetic approach towards ensuring peaceful co-existence in the JOA and attracted stakeholders from all sides of the divide across all parts of the three States.
The GOC and Commander OPSH, stressed the importance of the seminar which he said would facilitate a hitch free farming season, and also highlighted the crucial role played by the agricultural sector in the overall development of the country.
Abubakar also highlighted the nexus between food security and national security and therefore urged the stakeholders to create an enabling environment for farming and herding activities to be carried out side by side without fear of conflict.
On their parts, the resource persons who spoke on the theme emphasized the need for upholding the sanctity of human lives by desisting from indiscriminate attacks.
They also collectively urged the participants to tolerate one another and learn to forgive grievances from the past as reprisals would only lead to further losses which would further aggravate poverty.
They also pointed out that a successful farming season is only possible in an atmosphere of tolerance and respect for one another, endorsing the Bottom-Top Crisis Resolution Mechanism of OPSH which ensures that all peace efforts are transmitted to the lowest echelon and consequently advised the participants to use all avenues to pass the message of peace to their followers and wards.
The numerous resource persons further urged the participants to create an enabling environment for both farming and herding activities to thrive.
Delivering their remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Brigadier General GG Shippi (rtd), as well as the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani represented by his Special Adviser on Peace and Conflict Resolution, Mr Atiku Sankey, the Governors lauded the efforts of OPSH in bringing peace to the three States in the JOA.
They promised to continually support security agencies with critical enablers within the States’ resources to carry out their responsibilities.
Present at the seminar were top government officials, heads of security agencies, serving and retired senior military officers, traditional rulers, farmers, herders, youth and women leaders as well as civil society organizations.
The high point of the seminar was the interactive session during which participants lauded the initiative of OPSH and promised to do their best to ensure peaceful coexistence towards attaining a successful farming season in their communities.
At the end of the seminar, patrol motorcycles were presented to Neighbourhood Watches by OPSH for anti-farm destruction patrols in areas with high incidents of farm destruction to complement the efforts of security agencies.