The Commander Operation Safe Haven and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division Nigerian Army Jos Plateau State, Major General Abdulsalam has warned criminal elements and crisis merchants planning to obstruct Farming activities in Plateau State, parts of Kaduna and Bauchi State. He said the Military will not hesitate to deal decisively with those harbouring criminal elements and hell-bent on hindering farming activities.

He made this known during a security seminar organized for Stakeholders in Operation Safe Haven Joint Operations Area on peaceful coexistence towards a secure and successful farming season in 2024 with the theme “Peaceful Coexistence: Panacea For a Successful Farming Season” which held at the Conference Hall of the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment Jos, Plateau State on 4th June, 2024.

While disclosing that agriculture is crucial to the Nation’s development and prosperity, Maj. Gen. Abubakar said Operation Safe Haven will not rest on its oars to ensure that farming activities go on smoothly without any hindrance from criminal elements and other criminal elements in its Joint Operations Area compromising of Plateau State, Five Local Government Areas in Kaduna State (Southern Kaduna) and Two Local Government Areas in Bauchi State.

He assured the Citizens that the Military is working assiduously to ensure a hitch-free farming season that will enhance food security in the Country.He said the seminar which is geared towards a successful farming season is of utmost importance as it would ensure safety and prosperity in the various communities within Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) Joint Operations Area in Plateau, Kaduna and Bauchi States. He gave account of how 50 Farmlands were destroyed and over 200 Cattle killed in the Operation Safe Haven Joint Operations Area within the Month of May, 2024, a situation he said is unpalatable and a setback to the peace building process.

In his words “As the Commander OPSH/GOC 3 Div, I am not oblivious of the challenges faced during the farming season including farm destructions and attack on livestock with reprisals which sometimes degenerates into vicious cycle of violence. “This seminar is organised to address these challenges towards ensuring a hitch free and successful farming season this year and beyond. The fact that the Agricultural Sector is crucial to the overall development of any State or nation needs no further emphasis.

“We must thus create an enabling environment for both farming and herding activities to be carried out without fear or conflict.

“In this regard, this seminar will offer the platform for dialogue amongst stakeholders towards fashioning out modalities for a secure, peaceful and successful farming season this year and even beyond”He averred that he is not unaware of the losses accruing to farm destructions and attacks on cattle during the farming season.

He however stated that attacks and reprisals over losses of the past would only lead to more losses which will further aggravate poverty and worsen the socio-economic situation in the various communities.

He said “We must therefore learn to forgive and forget real or perceived grievances because it is only in an atmosphere of peace that socioeconomic activities thrive. For the stakeholders here, you must adopt the Bottom – Top Crisis Resolution approach to fashion ways and means to ensure that issues raised in this seminar trickle down to others who are not opportune to be present here today.

“As we deliberate in the course of this seminar, let us critically look at those issues that often lead to the disruption of farming activities in our various communities”

He highlighted some major triggers of violent conflicts to include underaged herders, night grazing, malicious damage to farmlands, attack on cattle/cattle rustling, inciting and inflammatory comments that results in conflicts between farmers and herders in our communities.

“I am confident that this seminar will yield the desired outcome of ensuring a peaceful farming season” he said.He said the Military came up with a framework towards ensuring that displaced persons are returned to their ancestral homes.

The Seminar featured Paper presentations by resource Persons on the subject matter of the Seminar, questions and answers session.

His Majesty Da Jacob Gyang Buba CRF the Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs represented by the Ngolong Ngas, His Royal Highness Nde Jika Golit applauded Operation Safe Haven for the initiative and the roles the Military are playing go restore peace in the State and environs.

Representative of the Governor of Plateau State, Brig-Gen. Gakji Shipi (rtd) the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Coordinator Operation Rainbow called for mutual understanding in resolving issues than attacks and killings. He said with the population explosion, it is important that issues of farming and grazing of cattle are properly carried out without being adversely affected. He said the Plateau State Government will give the necessary support to all Security Agencies to achieve a more peaceful, secure and prosperous State.

Representative of the Governor of Kaduna State, Hon. Sankey Isaac Atiku his Special Adviser on Peace and Conflict Resolution lauded Operation Safe Haven for its efforts aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence.

Highlights of the event include the commissioning of Six motorcycles to be used by trained Members of the Vigilante Group to enhance their operations and group photograph.

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Maj. Gen. Abubakar Warns Crisis Merchants Planning to Obstruct Farming Activities