The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Maxwell Dangana, has pledged to lead security operations in Plateau State with fairness, professionalism and impartiality, assuring residents that the military would remain neutral in addressing the state’s security challenges.
Dangana, who is also the Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, gave the assurance during a strategic stakeholders’ engagement held at the Headquarters of 3 Division in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
The meeting brought together traditional rulers, security chiefs, government officials, cultural associations and local government chairmen to deliberate on the security situation in Plateau and explore measures to achieve lasting peace.
Addressing the gathering, Dangana said the Nigerian Army and other security agencies under his command would not discriminate against any individual or group in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
“I will be fair to everyone irrespective of ethnic nationality, religion, political affiliation or social status. The Nigerian Army and other security agencies under my command have no preference for any group.
“Our allegiance is to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and our responsibility is to protect every innocent citizen,” he said.
Dangana acknowledged the contributions of his predecessors to improving security in the state but lamented that Plateau had continued to pay a heavy price due to recurring violence.
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He said innocent lives had been lost to killings, reprisals, kidnappings, cattle rustling, destruction of farmlands and other criminal activities, stressing that the cycle of violence must end.
“We must collectively reject this vicious circle of violence and ensure the sanctity of human life. Bloodshed only breeds bitterness and retaliation. We must reject every action capable of provoking conflict and embrace peaceful dialogue as the preferred means of resolving disagreements. Security is a shared responsibility,” he added.
Earlier, Governor Caleb Mutfwang called for a shift in the nation’s approach to insecurity, saying the violence confronting Plateau and other parts of the country should be treated as a threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty rather than a routine peacekeeping challenge.
According to the governor, Plateau’s abundant human and natural resources can only be fully harnessed in an atmosphere of peace, insisting that those responsible for the attacks are enemies of the state seeking to destabilise the country.
The Chairman of the Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs, and Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, commended the outgoing Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, for his efforts in restoring peace in parts of the state.
He, however, stressed the need to properly identify the causes of insecurity, arguing that the violence should not be described as communal clashes.
“We want to say that the issue is when you say communal clashes, it means clashes between tribes on the Plateau. Let us appreciate the people on the Plateau for working for peace. The people that are causing the problem are coming from outside, and this is the issue that we have to tackle,” he said.
The traditional ruler said there was a need to understand the mission and activities of those responsible for attacks, alleging that some ancestral lands had been taken over.
“From where are they coming, what is their mission? It is common knowledge here that they have taken over some of our ancestral lands. We have had so many discussions on security because Plateau has been challenged over the years,” he added.
Da Gyang Buba called on authorities to implement recommendations of previous judicial commissions of inquiry, saying such action would assist security agencies in addressing the crisis.
“We will keep talking, but if we don’t match our talk with action, then it will be in vain,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Plateau State chapter, Hamisu Anani, appealed for stronger collaboration among security agencies, local governments and communities in the quest for lasting peace.
Anani urged the new military leadership to work closely with stakeholders, assuring that local government authorities would support efforts aimed at restoring stability.
“Now that General Dangana is here, we want to plead that you will do more for peace. We know that peace is the duty of everybody, so let’s work together to make sure that Plateau has lasting peace, with the collaboration of security agencies,” he said.
The meeting ended with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to working with security agencies to consolidate peace and tackle the persistent security challenges confronting Plateau State.
