As the farming season gradually sets in, Operation Safe Haven, the military outfit in charge of security in Plateau, Bauchi and Kaduna State, has organised a peace summit for farmers and herders towards a Successful Farming Season In the Joint Operations Area
The seminar with the theme “Peaceful Coexistence: Panacea for a Successful Farming Season” was held at the 3 Division, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment Jos.
According to a statement by Major. Samson Nantip, Media Information Officer Opration SAFE HAVEN, made available to the press in Abuja, the event, which is part of OPSH’s non-kinetic approach towards ensuring peaceful coexistence in the JOA, drew critical stakeholders from all sides of the divide across all parts of the JOA.
In his address, the Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN and GOC 3 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Abdussalam Abubakar, stressed the importance of the seminar which would facilitate a hitch-free farming season and also highlighted the crucial role played by the Agricultural Sector in the overall development of any nation. He also highlighted the nexus between food security and national security and therefore urged the stakeholders to create an enabling environment for farming and herding activities to be carried out side by side without fear or conflict.
Gen. Abubakar also warned misguided persons who may wish to disrupt farming activities this year to have a rethink as OPSH will not hesitate to decisively deal with such criminals in line with extant laws. He decried the spate of farm destruction and attack on cattle in the past 2 months which have further aggravated tension in the affected communities.
Meanwhile, Resource Persons at the summit took turns to speak on its theme emphasising the need to uphold the sanctity of human lives by desisting from indiscriminate attacks. They also collectively urged the participants to tolerate one another and learn to forgive grievances from the past as reprisals would only lead to further losses which would further aggravate poverty. They also pointed out that a successful farming season is only possible in an atmosphere of tolerance and respect for one another.
The resource persons also endorsed the Bottom-Top Crisis Resolution Mechanism of OPSH which ensures that all peace efforts are transmitted to the lowest echelon and consequently advised the participants to use all avenues to pass the message of peace to their followers and wards. They further urged the participants to create an enabling environment for both farming and herding activities to thrive.
Delivering their remarks, the Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Brigadier General GG Shippi (Rtd), as well as the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani represented by his Special Adviser on Peace and Conflict Resolution, Atiku Sankey, both lauded the efforts of OPSH in bringing peace to the 3 states in the JOA. They promised to continually support security agencies with critical enablers within the States’ resources to carry out their responsibilities.
Present at the seminar were top government officials, heads of security agencies, serving and retired senior military officers, traditional rulers, farmers/herders, youth and women leaders as well as civil society organizations.
Highpoint of the seminar was the interactive session during which participants lauded the initiative of Operation SAFE HAVEN and promised to do their best to ensure peaceful coexistence towards attaining a successful farming season in their communities.
At the end of the seminar, patrol motorcycles were presented to Neighborhood Watches by OPSH for anti-farm destruction patrols in areas with high incidents of farm destruction to complement the efforts of security agencies.
