The Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, has intensified efforts to sustain peace in Plateau State by convening a broad-based stakeholders’ engagement involving leaders and representatives from Jos North, Jos East, and Bassa Local Government Areas ahead of the 2026 farming season.
The engagement, held in Jos, brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, community representatives, youth leaders, farmers, herders, and security agencies to deliberate on practical strategies for preventing conflict and ensuring a smooth agricultural season.
Speaking on behalf of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, the Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Mohammed Sule, described the meeting as timely and strategic. He said the objective was to consolidate the relative peace recorded in recent months while proactively addressing emerging threats.
He commended residents of the three local government areas for their commitment to peaceful coexistence, noting a visible reduction in violent incidents due to sustained dialogue and cooperation. However, he warned that challenges such as kidnapping, attacks on mining sites, illegal arms manufacturing, and the influx of cattle into farming communities—often leading to destruction of farmlands and reprisals—remain sources of concern.
To mitigate these risks, the GOC disclosed that both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches were being deployed. He revealed that the Chief of Defence Staff has approved the distribution of fertilizers to farmers across communal divides to boost agricultural productivity and foster cooperation, while the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has deployed a Special Forces Intervention Battalion to Plateau State to reinforce ongoing operations and swiftly respond to threats.
He further urged stakeholders to strengthen community-based conflict resolution mechanisms and sensitize youths against actions capable of triggering violence, such as farm destruction and cattle poisoning. He also called on media practitioners to uphold professionalism, emphasizing that unverified or sensational reports could inflame tensions rather than promote peace.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Jos North Local Government Area, Barrister John Kyohroh Christopher, commended Operation Enduring Peace for its relentless efforts in restoring calm, particularly after the recent Angwan Rukuba attack. He assured that the local government would continue to collaborate with the Joint Task Force to consolidate peace and stability in the area.
Also speaking, the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency, represented by Celestina Avizavi on behalf of the Director General, Dr. Julie Sanda, highlighted the critical link between peace and food security. She noted that the engagement went beyond agriculture, stressing that “where there is peace, farmers plant with confidence, herders move without fear, and communities thrive together.” She described the forum as a proactive and necessary step toward preventing conflict and safeguarding livelihoods.
Traditional institutions were also represented at the meeting. Speaking on behalf of the Ujah of Anaguta, His Majesty Pozoh Dr. Johnson Jauro Magaji II, the royal father from Nabor, HRH Haruna Bala, emphasized that such engagements are vital to strengthening the peace process at the grassroots. He assured that traditional rulers would cascade the outcomes of the meeting to their communities and engage youths to support peacebuilding efforts.
From the Fulani community, Ardo Ali Mohammed of Jos North lauded the initiative for bringing together diverse groups across religious and ethnic lines, describing it as a strong symbol of unity. He pledged that the resolutions reached would be communicated to members of his community to ensure compliance and peaceful coexistence.
Other stakeholders, including community leaders and representatives of both Christian and Muslim groups, also appreciated the military’s intervention, particularly the distribution of fertilizers, noting that it would ease the burden on farmers and encourage collaboration rather than conflict.
Participants collectively pledged to work together to ensure a peaceful farming season, emphasizing the need for vigilance, dialogue, and mutual respect among all groups.
In his concluding remarks, the GOC reaffirmed that Operation Enduring Peace remains committed to protecting all law-abiding citizens without bias, stressing that security agencies will continue aggressive operations against criminal elements. He, however, emphasized that lasting peace can only be achieved through sincere cooperation and shared responsibility among all stakeholders.
The engagement ended presentation of fertilizers to various communities with a renewed call for unity, restraint, and sustained collaboration as Plateau State prepares for the farming season.
