THE PLATEAU YOUTH G17 PEACE AND PROGRESSIVE FORUM EXPRESSES DEEP CONCERN OVER THE REDEPLOYMENT OF THE COMMANDER, OPERATION SAFE HAVEN AND DEMANDS ITS REVERSAL

We receive with shock and consternation the news of the redeployment of Major General A.M Antolagbe as the commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) to a new assignment at the Defence Headquarters.

While we are not against routine military deployments, we wander why this is coming at a time when citizens and victims are beginning to see visible signs in the renewed efforts at bringing perpetrators of the gruesome murder of helpless farmers and the sacking of villages to book. We recall with apprehension, similar redeployments in the past and the changing fortunes they have had on the efforts at curbing the incessant attacks on farming communities in the state. This constant change of guards at the OPSH over the years, is seen by citizens as partly responsible for government’s inability to put a permanent stop to the carnage and continues to fuel suspicion of complacency and collusion with some elements within the ranks of the security forces stationed in the state for almost a decade now.

THE BASIS FOR OUR DEMAND

1. It is no longer news that our people have developed confidence in the leadership of Major General A.M Atolagbe who only recently adopted new operational strategies and tactics that have started yielding results as well as building confidence in citizens on the readiness of the OPSH to meet the challenges of securing their lives and properties.

2. The relocation of his operational base as commander to the theater of conflict has in no small measure helped and is seen as proactive and a sure way in ensuring the timely and efficient deployment of troops to troubled areas thereby denying the attackers the advantage of carrying out their deadly attacks within the comforts of abundant time and space before troops are mobilized.

3. His professional and unbiased handling of “orders from above” which would have compromised the effective discharge of his responsibilities is also being seen as a reason why he should be allowed to continue rather than the suspicious redeployment to defence headquarters. These postings have over the years awaken citizens to the painful reality of the correlation between an OPSH Commander’s religious or ethnic affiliations to the relative successes or failures in securing lives and property as well as effect arrest of perpetrators. This further strengthens the allegations of collusion in the minds of citizens as stories making the rounds points to the complacency of one Brigadier General Bello Chieg who, it is said, is an asset to the perpetrators.

4. Citizens are apprehensive and agitated as his redeployment is seen as resulting from the arrest of some of the perpetrators of this senseless blood letting and genocide whose confessions are yielding credible and useful information that we believe will gave a leeway for the further arrest and unveiling of the masterminds and their billionaire sponsors.

It is therefore disheartening and suspicious, the hurried redeployment of the Commander who we believe is starting to unravel the mystery behind the seeming invincibility of the marauding herdsmen. This has left us and indeed, all genuine humanists with more questions than answers on the readiness of government and its security agencies, particularly the armed forces, who have for more than a decade now, been saddled with the responsibility of protecting the lives and property of citizens. The following posers continue to agitate our minds as we demand that appreciate measures be taken in safeguarding the successes so far recorded by immediately reversing this ill motivated and ill timed redeployment.

POSERS

A. Why would the military authorities redeployed such an asset in the name of a routine exercise when his renewed efforts and resolve is yielding valuable information and results?

B. Is his redeployment at this critical time necessary and unavoidable?

C. Was his redeployment urgent and significant to the overall fight against terror and insurgency in the country or simply a routine deployment of personnel?

D. Why redeploying someone that has become very conversant with the issues and actors in the face of the daring and brazen nature of the attacks, someone who now possesses first hand information on the modus operandi of the attackers?

OUR PRAYERS:

1. We demand the immediate REVERSAL of the REDEPLOYMENT of Major General A.M Atolagbe as the commander of OPSH in the interest of the restoration of peace in Plateau State and the securing of justice for victims of the murderous attacks by herdsmen.

2.That a civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) be introduce on the Plateau since it has recorded success in many part of the North East as a collaborative and desperate measure in restoring peace and safeguarding the lives of citizens.

3. In line with general clamor for community and state policing, we advocate for the provision of logistic and training support to the Plateau State Operation Rainbow and the posting of indigenous Plateau military officers and men to various positions within the hierarchy of OPSH as a sure way to guarantee success in view of their background and knowledge of the theater of conflict which should be seen as assets in the fight against herdsmen attackers as well as locals involved.

4. We also demand that immediate plans and actions be taken in the resettlement of our fellow countryman that have been turned into IDPs back to their ancestral homelands.

5. We shall henceforth hold the military authorities responsible if and when failure to act accordingly leads to further acts of pogrom in Plateau State.

6. We however, wish to put on record, our commendations on the efforts and success recorded by the leadership of Major General Antony M Atolagbe as we awaits his return to plateau.

Song Muru
For: Plateau Youth G17 Peace and Progressive Forum

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Plateau G-17 Expresses Disappointment Over Redeployment of Gen. Anthony Atolagbe, Commandant OPSH