Major General AE Abubakar, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH), has issued a strong caution to people in Plateau State’s Bokkos Local Government Area against taking the law into their own hands.
He issued the warning on Saturday during a stakeholders meeting for the Bokkos community leaders in 3 Division Auditorium, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment Jos, where he underlined the necessity of separating criminals in society.
In his introductory remarks, the GOC/Commander OPSH emphasized the tremendous successes lately documented in ensuring peace on the Plateau continues to grow.
Among his accomplishments were the relocation of approximately 40 communities to their ancestral homes, dominance of all critical vulnerable areas, the arrest and neutralization of several bandits, the busting of factories manufacturing small arms and light weapons, the arrest of drug peddling syndicates, and the recovery of several caches of arms and ammunition.
He also revealed that several projects were carried out as part of the Nigerian Army’s civil military cooperation framework, including the construction of a new hospital outpost with medical equipment, school renovation, and the installation of solar-powered boreholes in remote communities to create the enabling conditions for the return of displaced citizens. He did, however, warn that any attempt by a few criminal elements, crisis merchants, or groups to reverse the gains made thus far will not be accepted.
The GOC emphasized the importance of stakeholders preventing the vicious cycle of violence from recurring in Bokkos, stressing that the triggers of violence in the area have already been identified and measures are underway to permanently eradicate them. He asked community leaders to fully cooperate with security services in identifying and apprehending individuals responsible for causing problems in the area, and he advised criminals to alter their wicked ways for the sake of peace.
In addition, General Abubakar stated that anyone involved in illegal activities such as farm destruction, cattle rustling, and cow poisoning will not only be required to pay compensation, but will also be prosecuted in the future. He exhorted the people to forgive one another and move toward acceptance. The GOC also underlined the need of working together to combat crime in order to secure long-term peace. He also asked all stakeholders to collaborate in order to achieve peaceful cohabitation.
Community leaders who spoke at the ceremony thanked the GOC and Commander OPSH for his prompt intervention in addressing current growing issues that could spark unrest in Bokkos. They demanded harsh punishment for those who committed illegal conduct and emphasized their support for the military. The speakers also asked Operation SAFE HAVEN to take swift action against drug peddlers, citing the role of drugs in the region’s criminality.
The community leaders also promised to work with OPSH and security agencies to ensure a peaceful and secure environment for all Bokkos inhabitants.
The Transitional Chairman of Bokkos Local Government, Hon Monday Kassah, Acting President of Bokkos Local Government Traditional Council, Saf Lawrence Ayizat, Zonal Chairman Miyetti Allah, Chairman Gam Allah, as well as traditional and community leaders from Bokkos, attended the occasion.
