From Asile Emmanuel, Jos
The Special Task Force mandated to restore peace on the Plateau, code named “Operation Safe Haven (OPSH),” has successfully mobilized the return of some school children and 45 villagers who fled their land for safety as a result of the incessant communal crisis that engulfed Kurra Falls in Gashish Community of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The Commander OPSH, Maj.-Gen. Tabo Ude, stated that the feat was made possible with the establishment of a Strike Force Base in the community.
His words, “When I took over as the OPSH Commander last year, I visited Kurra Falls and saw that all the villagers were nowhere to be found. So I decided to set up a ‘Strike Force Base’ that will provide security within the area to boost the confidence of the villagers, so that they can return home and with this development the inhabitants of this community are now returning home. This Base is to guarantee the safety of the villagers at all times.”
Gen. Ude added that the Strike Force Base would help to reduce reaction time to distress calls within the community, saying that the base is well equipped with modern day military equipment.
He was happy that since the establishment of the Strike Force Base, lives and property have been secured which has led to the return of peace to the area. “No life has been reported lost and school children have also returned back to school”, he stated.
Ude urged the community leaders and all inhabitants of Barkin-Ladi to be law-abiding and to also learn to tolerate each other.
Responding, the Management Committee Chairman of Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area, Mr. Bitrus Doro, said he was full of gratitude to the OPSH Commander for his tireless effort to ensure that the ‘Base’ which has brought peace back to the community was established.
He also thanked the Commander for creating a cordial military-civilian relationship, a feat which he said had promoted peace in the community.
The council chief said government will continue to do its best to ensure sustainable support for the OPSH. He also called on the public to partner with the OPSH to further promote sustainable coexistence.
At the commissioning of the Strike Force Base, a football novelty match was organised between Hausa/Fulani and the natives to celebrate the return of peaceful coexistence in the community.
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