By Abdullahi Alhassan The Headquarters, 3 Division, Nigerian Army, and Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE have urged comm...
The Headquarters, 3 Division, Nigerian Army, and Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE have urged communities in Plateau State and parts of Kaduna and Bauchi states to sustain dialogue and cooperation to ensure a peaceful 2026 farming season.
The call was made during a one-day expanded stakeholders' engagement held at Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos. The forum brought together participants from the 17 local government areas of Plateau State, including traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, farmers, herders, retired senior military officers, and local government officials.
Declaring the meeting open, the outgoing General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander, Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, said sustained stakeholder engagement had helped reduce farmer-herder tensions and improve both farming and grazing activities within the Joint Operations Area.
He described the engagement as a platform for dialogue, confidence-building, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
"The peaceful resolution of several potential conflicts shows that lasting peace depends on sustained stakeholder engagement, mutual understanding, and collective responsibility," Oyinlola said.
The GOC highlighted the impact of the operation's non-kinetic approach, including community-led policing, Quick Impact Projects, and sporting activities for youths, which he said had strengthened security and restored public confidence.
While noting the improved security situation, he warned that isolated criminal acts could undermine the gains already recorded if left unchecked. He urged communities to remain vigilant and ensure that the resolutions reached at the meeting were implemented at the grassroots level.
Speaking on behalf of local stakeholders, Mr. Dauda Adam Mamman commended the outgoing GOC for his consistent engagement with communities, describing it as a key factor in the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Plateau State. He called on farmers and herders to remain tolerant and channel their grievances through peaceful mechanisms rather than confronting security personnel.
The Chairman of Riyom Local Government Area and representative of Plateau State's local government chairmen, Hon. Sati Bature Shuwa, also praised Oyinlola's leadership and pledged the continued support of council chairmen to the incoming commander.
On behalf of retired senior military officers, Brigadier General J. N. Temlong (Rtd.) advocated stronger community-based early warning systems. He said security personnel were deployed to protect lives and property and thanked the Chief of Army Staff for his continued support for Operation ENDURING PEACE.
The Chairman of the Plateau State Traditional Council and Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba Gyang, urged communities to expose criminal elements and provide credible intelligence to security agencies. He stressed that peaceful coexistence was essential to the state's development and urged the incoming GOC to sustain the stakeholder engagement initiative.
Responding, the incoming GOC, 3 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander, Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Maxwell Dangana, assured stakeholders of impartial leadership. He described security as a shared responsibility and urged communities to report criminal elements, provide timely intelligence, resolve disputes through lawful means, and refrain from reprisals.
"The Nigerian Army remains committed to protecting lives and property," Dangana said.
In his vote of thanks, the Deputy Commander, Operation ENDURING PEACE, Commissioner of Police T. Iyua, commended Oyinlola's leadership and welcomed Dangana to the command.
The meeting concluded with interactive sessions during which stakeholders proposed practical measures to consolidate security gains ahead of the peak of the 2026 farming season.
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