Plateau crisis:Christian, Muslim groups hail OPSH on quick return of peace

*Task state govt, security agencies on imminent resettlement of IDPs to their homes

*Seek immediate arrest of those behind  stoning of Lalong’s convoy at IDPs camp

As reactions continue to trail the recent attacks on some villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State where scores of people were killed and several property razed down by the attackers, a coalition of Christian and Muslim groups in the country has commended the internal  military  task force, Operation Safe Haven, OPSH, for prompt restoration of peace in the state. 

This  was even as the groups under the aegis of National Coalition of Muslim and Christian( Groups for Peace and Development(NACOMPD,said it “condemned in the strongest terms the killings of over 90 people in Barkin Ladi  Local Government Area of Plateau State by some criminal elements.” 

Addressing the media in Jos at the weekend,  after an emergency meeting it held to appraise the security situation in the state, the group said it commended the security agencies especially the Operation Safe Haven for what it called its professional strategies it adopted in bringing the situation under control within shortest possible time,  therefore averting further spread and lost of lives.

In the joint news conference addressed by the  National President, Sheik Mohammed Gadalanchi and the  National Secretary,  Reverend Silas Yakamata, the coalition “urged Operation  Safe Haven  to prosecute the criminals arrested after discreet investigation in Jos to avoid jurisdictional     and interference bottlenecks.” 

The meeting was attended by delegates from all parts of the country, according to Gadalanchi,”also tasked the State  Security  Service,  DSS and Nigeria Police  Intelligence  and criminal Investigation Department  to sit up to their constitutional roles by providing intelligence information before attacks or any crisis to avoid the reactionary response by security agencies.”

 
The coalition, while commending the security agencies especially Operation Safe  Haven for their smart and professional strategies  it adopted in bringing the situation under control within the shortest possible time  therefore averting further loss of lives”,.

 It however hailed the actions of  the Miyetti   Allah Cattle  Breeders  Association  and all the Berom  social cultural, political groups for distancing themselves from any criminal elements in their tribe or organization,saying this is the ” best way to achieve lasting peace.” 

(NACOMPD) while also condemning  the recent stoning of Governor Samuel Lalong  of Plateau State  by some hoodlums at the IDP camp in Anguldi, urged “the security agencies to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators and their sponsors.”  

” We also condemned  in the strongest terms the press statement by some elders linking the stoning of the governor to an ethnic group in the state. This,we observed is not healthy for the fragile peace on the Plateau. We wish to state that every tribe in the world has  criminals and criminals must be treated as criminals and not as a tribal criminal, “the group said in a prepared text read at the event.

 The coalition appealed to the  federal government to without delay,  provide all manpower and logistics  support to the security agencies in Plateau  State. 

” We commend the effort of Operation Safe  Haven  for  taking  the bull by the horn in the arrest of over 25 suspects directly connected to the attacks. This is the first time we are seeing a commander who damned any sentiment  to arrest suspects from both sides of the conflict.

 “We commend the security agencies for the proactive measure adopted that prevented the crisis from spreading into the state  capital, this would have rolled back the relative peace achieved on the Plateau,” it added.

The group urged the Plateau State Government and the security agencies to resettle all the IDPs  back to their original homes. 

Expressing its further appreciation on the efforts of OPSH in the quick restoration of peace in the state following the ugly development, the group insisted that: “We ” strongly commend without reservation the doggedness, firmness, fairness to all parties, professionalism, and impartial position of the Commander  of Operation  Safe  Haven,  Major General Anthony  Atolagbe.” 

It resolved to immediately mobilize relief materials to be taken to  the IDPs’camps to alleviate the  hardship being faced by the displaced. 

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Plateau Crisis:Christian, Muslim Groups Hail OPSH on Quick Return of Peace