By Jude Owuamanam, Jos
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has announced plans to send more troops to troubled Plateau communities.
He aims to stop the constant attacks in the state. However, he stressed that peace depends on the people. They must choose tolerance, forgiveness, and unity.
Speaking to reporters at a meeting with key Bokkos Local Council stakeholders on Monday, Oluyede promised fairness. He said troops would remain neutral and professional, regardless of tribe or religion. He assured residents that those behind the recent crimes would face justice.
“The security agencies may deploy a battalion of troops to Bokkos, and we may not achieve the desired peace,” he said. “The security agencies don’t have enough personnel to cover everywhere. So, we must learn to coexist together. Peace in Bokkos and Plateau is possible, but only if we all reject violence and embrace peace.”
Meanwhile, Maj. Fusho Oyinlola spoke too. He is the General Officer Commanding 3 Armoured Division and Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH). He vowed to hunt down the culprits of the latest crises.
The meeting came just a month after a similar one. It was called due to worsening security in Bokkos and nearby areas.
He said, “The recent coordinated attacks on communities have led to loss of lives and property, disrupted livelihoods, and deepened divisions amongst the people. This engagement is therefore an opportunity to address these. The senseless acts of violence that was witnessed in some of our communities must stop.”
Oyinlola warned criminals clearly. “Let me make it unequivocally clear that any further attacks on innocent civilians, destruction of property, or acts of lawlessness will be decisively dealt with,” he added. “OPSH, alongside other security agencies, will not stand idly by while criminal elements destabilise our communities. Those who think they can take the law into their hands and go unpunished should rethink their actions because the full weight of the law will be brought upon them.”
Yet, he noted that military action alone isn’t enough. “Sustainable peace is a collective responsibility which requires commitment from every stakeholder,” he concluded.