The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has launched a new Task Force-Operation. "Enduring Peace" to tackle insecurity bedeviling Plateau and some parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states.
The initiative, which replaced the former Operation Safe Haven was flagged off at the Headquarters of 3 Division, Nigeria Army, Rukuba Barrack, Jos.
Speaking during the flag off ceremony, the Chief of Army Staff, said the new Operation is a rebranding of Operation Safe Haven, aimed to achieve last peace in Joint Operations Area with the involvement of members of the affected.
General Musa noted that Operation SAFE HAVEN had played a vital role in addressing the complex security challenges in its Joint Operations Area, and also served as a stabilizing force, providing the much-needed assurance of security to communities affected by decades of recurrent violence.
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The Defence Chief disclosed that the rebranding would reflect a broader mandate, renewed sense of purpose and a stronger resolve to secure not just temporary safety, but a lasting peace that would endure for generations. The CDS further noted, that security challenges require more than immediate interventions but sustainable solutions that integrate military, political, judicial and community efforts.
"It is a total new impetus. Before it was Safe Haven, now is Enduring Peace. What we think we need is more peace. Like I say, is not just for us to win the war is to make in the peace because If you win the war without the peace, there wouldn't be anything. Now, we have reached that stage. Now is to bring the peace that is going to be enduring for everyone to benefit from it. It is a new mindset that we want to create within the troops . We need to work with the communities. The communities must trust us. Trust is not something you buy. People see your action and inaction before they trust you.
"We have members of community that are criminally minded. When there is peace, they try to cause one problem of the other. The duty of the community including traditional institutions is to identify crimes in the areas. We are fully committed that there is peace in the Plateau. The President has provided much needed items to tackle insecurity. We are getting more troops on the ground. The police is coming in fully. The Civil Defense and all other paramilitary organizations. It is a Nigerian challenge and we want Nigerias to take the ownership of this challenge so that we can have peace, " the CDS added.
He appealed to Nigerians to support the Armed Forces in ensuring peace, adding that they were determined to maintain law and order everywhere in the country.
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