Military Organises Peace Summit Ahead of Farming Season
As the farming season gradually sets in, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), the military outfit in charge of security in Plateau and parts of Kaduna State, has organised a peace summit for farmers and herdsmen.
Sources report that the summit was held on Saturday at Gwantu, Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, the Commander of OPSH, who described the summit as ‘apt’, said that the event was targeted at stemming the tides of insecurity in the area.
The commander also said that the initiative was part of its non-kinetic approach to tackling security challenges in its areas of operation.
Abdusalam, who expressed worry over the continous clashes between farmers and herders, maintained that the event was focused on finding lasting solution to the myriad of security challenges.
The commander, who also decried the inability of farmers to effectively cultivate their farmlands in the previous year, called on the residents to embrace peace at all times.
”We are going into the farming season and the people must farm because it is their basic source of livelihood.
”Last year, the people didn’t farm well because of insecurity leading to the current food scarcity in the land.
”So, we don’t want that to happen again; we want everybody to farm because it will stop youths from engaging in crimes like kidnapping and armed robbery.
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”Recently, the Federal Government expressed deep concern over the current food shortage in the country and we must create the enabling environment for farming activities to take place,” he said.
Abubakar identified underage and night grazing, destruction of farmlands and poisoning of cattles as major triggers of conflicts in the area.
He, however, called on the residents to desist from all acts capable of igniting conflict, adding that the seminar had provided a platform for the people to dialogue toward adressing the challenges.
”In southern Kaduna and Plateau, the major trigers of conflicts are underage, night grazing, farm destruction and poisoning of cows, which lead to the vicious circle of violence.
”The need to ensure farmers return to their farms cannot be overemphasised; we will do everything possible to end these circle of violence,” he said.
He advised residents of the locality to forgive and forget the events of the past, adding that such would ensure a more peaceful society.
Earlier, Maj. Mohammed Galadima, the Commander of the OPSH Foward Operation Base in Gwantu, had said that the initiative was part of its bottom-top approach to addressing security challenges.
Also speaking, Mr Bisala Malam, Chairman of Sanga Local Government, commended OPSH for its efforts toward achieving lasting peace in the area.
Represented by Mr Istifanus Sarki, the Secretary of the council, Malam also thanked OPSH for organising the summit, saying othat it would ensure sustainable peace in the locality.
