By Kingsley Chukwuka
The Commander of the Special Military Task Force in Plateau State, code named Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Maj. Gen Ibrahim Ali has charged the warring communities of Irigwe and Fulani youths in Bassa Local Government Area of the State to maintain peace between each other for at least in the next five months.
Gen. Ali who also double as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3rd Amord Division, said if five months of peace is achieved it would be consolidated going forward.
The Army boss was speaking on Thursday in Jos, during a one-day Peace Summit between the Irigwe and Fulani Youths put together by the Taskforce.
He said if the youths can come together they will formulate issues that will foster development rather than fight and kill each other.
“There is time for war and there is time for peace but now is time for peace. We should learn to embrace ourselves to attract development to our people. Currently, Rwanda in progressing, Ghana is progressing and this is possible because the citizens all embrace.
“Let us channel our energy toward peace for the development of our communities, State and Nigeria. I also know that there is also issue of cultism among us, this is another form of criminality that we must collectively deal with.
“We want peace, unity and better understanding. In the next five months, I don’t want to hear any attack between Irigwe and the Fulani. We are aware of the criminals among us but we must take deliberate step to expose them”, he said.
Gen. Ali however applauded the report of the 36-man committee set up to engage the warring communities and said the recommendation of the committee if thoroughly implemented would bring an end to the violent attacks and killings.
“Today mark another significant milestone in our quest for lasting peace on the Plateau and I am sincerely pleased to have you in our midst. We all acknowledge that the incessant crises among the various ethnic groups in Bassa, Jos North and Jos South Local Government Areas have continued to undermine peace and security in the areas over the years.
“The government and Operation SAFE HAVEN have been working tirelessly to evolve measures to address the lingering crises in order to restore peace to the affected areas”, the Army boss said.