By Miriam Humbe
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division and Commander of Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, has called for a renewed commitment to harmonious Peaceful coexistence among the people of Jos North, Jos East, and Bassa Local Government Areas.
Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh,
Media Information Officer
Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE disclosed this in a statement.
Speaking through the Chief of Staff of the Operation, Brigadier General Senlong Sule, at a critical stakeholders’ engagement held in Jos, the GOC emphasized that the meeting was a strategic necessity to fashion practical modalities for peace as the farming season commences.
He commended the residents of the 3 local government areas for their demonstrated commitment to stability, noting a visible decline in violent incidents over recent months, attributing the relative calm to sustained dialogue and community cooperation.
He however, cautioned that the progress must be defended against emerging security threats.
Major General Oyinlola highlighted concerns regarding kidnapping, attacks on miners, illegal arms manufacturing, and large-scale influx of cattle into farming communities, which has historically led to the destruction of farmlands and subsequent reprisals.
To mitigate these tensions, Operation ENDURING PEACE announced significant non-kinetic and kinetic interventions, revealing that the Chief of Defence Staff has approved the distribution of fertilizers to stakeholders across communal divides to encourage agricultural productivity.
Furthermore, he noted that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, had recently approved the deployment Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion, an elite Special Forces unit to Plateau State.
He said The deployment is intended to swiftly contain emerging threats and reinforce ongoing stabilization efforts, which have already begun to reduce anxiety and isolated attacks in the region.
Addressing the traditional, religious, and community leaders in attendance, the GOC stressed the importance of strengthening community-based conflict resolution mechanisms, urging stakeholders to sensitize their youth against provocative actions such as farm destruction or cattle poisoning and encouraged the development of a community-driven code of conduct.
He further appealed to the media to exercise high professional standards, warning that sensational or unverified reportage only serves to heighten tensions rather than build peace.
In his concluding remarks, Maj General Oyinlola reaffirmed that security agencies remain neutral arbiters dedicated to upholding the Constitution and protecting all law-abiding citizens regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation and reminded the gathering that peace is a collective survival necessity rather than a favor extended to others.
While assuring the public that Operation ENDURING PEACE will continue aggressive clearance operations against criminal hideouts, the GOC maintained that lasting results depend entirely on the sincerity and cooperation of the local communities.
On his part, the Jos North Local Government Chairman, Barr. John Kyohroh Christopher lauded OPERATION ENDURING PEACE for working round the clock in ensuring that peace returned to the LGA, after the unfortunate Agwan Rukuba killings.
Christopher stated that the local council will continue to work with the Joint Task Force to ensure the consolidation of peace in Jos North.
He praised the GOC, the Chief of Army Staff as well as the Chief of Defence Staff for distributing fertilizer palliative to farmers in the region.
Appreciating the fertilizer distribution, local chiefs and heads of Muslims and Christians Communities, lauded the efforts of the military, pledging to ensure that the planting season is without rancor.
