Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos – April 17, 2025
Amid rising violence in Plateau State, stakeholders gathered today at the headquarters of Operation SAFE HAVEN, 3 Division Nigerian Army, in an urgent effort to de-escalate tensions and prevent further bloodshed in communities rocked by ongoing attacks.
The high-level engagement followed nearly two weeks of deadly violence in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas, where over 100 people have reportedly been killed and more than 2,000 displaced, according to emergency responders.
The meeting, convened by Major General Folunsho Oyinlola, General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander of Operation SAFE HAVEN, brought together top government officers, local government chairmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community representatives, and security agencies.
Addressing participants, Major General Oyinlola described the current wave of attacks as a tragedy fueled by long-standing grievances, mistrust, and failed leadership.
“We are at a critical point where silence has become complicity, and inaction, dangerous. No grievance, no matter how deep, justifies murder,” he stated, adding that military operations were already underway to hunt down those behind the attacks.
Oyinlola criticized the failure of some leaders to rein in their followers and called for renewed commitment to dialogue and reconciliation.
“This stakeholders’ meeting is not a formality—it is a call to action,” he said. “Let us talk to one another, not take up arms. Peace is not a favour; it is a necessity for survival.”
Also speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North-Central), Abiodun Essiet, expressed deep sympathy for affected families and emphasized the federal government’s commitment to peacebuilding efforts.
“Lives have been lost, homes destroyed, and livelihoods shattered,” she said. “But I am hopeful because today’s gathering signals a shared determination to break the cycle of violence.”
Essiet highlighted past reconciliation efforts and urged stakeholders to tap into traditional dispute resolution mechanisms and inclusive dialogue. She announced plans by the presidency to launch a Community Peace Initiative and an Inter-Religious and Inter-Tribal Town Hall Meeting in Plateau and other North Central states later this month.
“This is not just a strategic intervention—it is a national responsibility,” she said. “We must move forward as brothers and sisters, not adversaries.”
Stakeholders echoed the need for peace within the communities through reassured efforts for peaceful co-existance and for more intensified measures to secure hotspots, with ongoing operations targeting the masterminds of the recent violence. The call for collective responsibility was echoed throughout the session, as speakers urged residents to cooperate with security forces by providing timely intelligence.
The engagement closed with a shared resolution among stakeholders to prioritize peace and work collaboratively across divides to restore calm to Plateau State.
